By Helen Willoughby-Peck —  Most home gardeners who grow tomatoes have experienced  problems with tomato diseases.  Tomatoes can suffer a variety of diseases and environmental factors contributing to poor production, foliage damage, or plant death. Here are a few of them that you might be seeing on your tomato plants this summer with possible solutions to ‘cure’ your plants. Tomato ...

By Brian David (UC Master Gardener, Mariposa) In Mariposa we can access answers to gardening questions through the University of California’s Master Gardener Helpline. Belinda Gilbert and Diane Timmins, UC Master Gardener Helpline volunteers, explain the helpline process. What is the purpose of the U.C. Master Gardener’s Helpline?  We receive calls from people wanting help identifying insects or plants. Sometimes ...

By Bob Labozetta (Mariposa Master Gardener) Gardening in this time of increasing global temperatures, rising sea levels, and changing environments is challenging to say the least. In our own locale, we notice significant impact on our backyard habitats: With higher average temperatures and inconsistent precipitation, plants are blooming earlier and growing seasons are becoming unpredictable. Even warm-weather plants like tomatoes ...

MARIPOSA — To get the best out of your fruit trees, you have to give them the best care with the right tools at the right time of the year, says Master Gardener Bob Labozetta. That right time is now. The Mariposa Master Gardeners will conduct a free, open to the public workshop on pruning fruit trees on Saturday, Feb. ...

By Bob Labozetta, Master Gardener —  MOUNTAIN AREA — Now is a great time to plant bare root fruit and nut trees, although anytime from January through March works. At this time there should be a wide selection of cultivars that are much less expensive than containerized specimens, making it easier to transport. The process of planting bare root fruit ...

Written by Bob Labozetta — MARIPOSA COUNTY — The Detwiler Fire ravaged nearly 82,000 acres and burned 63 homes. Where should we go now, what should we have done to make our homes safe, and what should we be doing to help our land recover? Michael S. Beaudoin of the Mariposa County Fire Safe Council will present a free workshop ...

MARIPOSA — Mariposa Master Gardeners started the new year on a high note by announcing honors for members. Vivian White, class of 2015, was named Volunteer of the Year for her work at the group’s demonstration garden along Mariposa Creek, reorganization of the storage unit, leadership of the 2016 garden tour and organizational skills. In her speech, Coordinator Kris Randal ...

Written by Matt Powers — It’s Actually Not Hard to Garden in the Foothills I’ve heard it all, and I have a large garden in Coarsegold with no fences, poisons, or chemical fertilizers. It took years of trial and error, research, and education in permaculture to understand the complexity of our region though, on that journey, I found easy ways ...