By Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa Fall is the time to plant California natives. The weather is cooler, the first soaking rains are imminent, and yet there is still plenty of good sunlight. These factors make for good initial foliage growth and root development. The motivation for adding native plants comes down to one thing: water. Mariposa County enjoys ...

By Brian David, U.C. Master Gardener, Mariposa We know that wildfire smoke affects people’s health. Particles of burned plants and trees land on dust particles and are breathed into the lungs. However, this year’s Creek Fire not only affects you, it affects your plants. This summer’s Sierra foothill smoke has limited gardening in part by imposing health restrictions on gardeners. ...

By Bob Labozetta, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa It’s 90 degrees outside. Yep, time to prepare for your winter veggie garden. WHAT? Winter veggie choices include beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, chard, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions/shallots, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radishes, rhubarb, rutabaga, spinach, turnip, and other leafy greens such as bok choy and kale. The above veggies can be direct ...

By Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County MARIPOSA — With warm, dry months ahead, many folks around Mariposa County with oak trees by their house or on their landscape might be asking how best to ensure the health of those trees. The short and happy answer is that you do not need to do too much. But you should ...

By Bob Labozetta, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa MARIPOSA — So you’ve started your seeds in pots or trays and they have sprouted. Now what? When it’s too early to transplant seedlings out into the garden, but they’re too big to remain in their first containers (or your seedlings are crowding each other), you need to transplant them into bigger pots ...

By UC Master Gardeners of Mariposa County With “stay at home” orders in place, more people are starting a home garden. For the novice gardener, knowing where to begin can be a challenge. A few tips and steps will get you gardening in no time! If this is your first vegetable garden, start small. You will want to get the ...

By Bob Labozetta, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa MARIPOSA — With so many people following stay-at-home orders, vegetable gardens are on the rise across the country. Are you ready to put in your own “victory” garden? Let’s look at some tips to get you started. When planning a garden, consider where the sunlight falls. Almost all vegetables grow best in full ...

By Bob Labozetta, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa MARIPOSA — Gardening is a great physically activity that keeps one’s mind, spirit, and body in healthy condition. Offering exercise, sunshine, food and ornamentals are optimal benefits of this outdoor exertion. Age and physical limitations may seem to preclude this enjoyable avocation. However, careful planning, new techniques and modified garden implements can make ...

By Brian David, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa California’s winter rains patter on fallen leaves and brown grasses above soils crawling with sub-terrestrial animals. Natural mulch feeds a crescendo of green emerging to meet the sky. Mulching is a cycle of plants and trees laying down their old lives to produce the earth’s new life. When we spread organic matter over ...

By Bob Labozetta, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa MARIPOSA COUNTY — Perennial vegetables like artichokes, asparagus, rhubarb, and horseradish need protection to survive the freezing temperatures of winter that occur in our area. Artichokes may be hardy down to USDA Zone 6 and asparagus down to Zone 4, but they do need care before cold winter temperatures set in. For artichokes, ...