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Spring Garden Market and Educational Fair

UC Master Gardeners

San Mateo County Event Center, Redwood Hall

2495 South Delaware Street

San Mateo, CA 94403

April 15, 2023, 9:00am-1:00pm

The UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties are holding their public Spring Garden Market and Educational Fair on April 15th from 9:00am-1:00pm at the San Mateo County Event Center's Redwood Hall. This event will offer a large variety of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, herbs, succulents, pollinators and other plants that have been selected and grown just for the San Francisco and Peninsula climate zone. In addition to plants, there will be free demonstrations and workshops, educational tables and displays, and Master Gardeners available to answer any questions. Funds raised will be used to purchase material and supplies for future training and workshops that will be free to the public. Read more about the fair and a list of plants available.

Spring in Your Garden

March/April/May Checklists

UC Master Gardeners

Find information for the current season, or view other seasonal checklists using the left panel of our main website.

Plant Clinic in San Mateo

UC Master Gardeners

San Mateo Arboretum in Central Park

101 9th Avenue

San Mateo, CA 94401

March 5, 2023, 12:00pm-3:00pm

UC Master Gardeners will be available to answer your questions from general information to advice about specific problems. Bring samples of your problem plants in clear plastics bags for better diagnosis. If you suspect insect damage, try to include some of the insects so they can be correctly identified. Registration not required. Read more.

Non-poisonous Gopher Abatement

UC Master Gardeners

Zoom presentation

March 8, 2023, 1:00pm-3:00pm

If gophers are destroying your garden and gobbling up the fruits of your labor, then this is the class for you. You will learn many useful non-poisonous abatement techniques to protect your garden. Topics will include trapping, creating barriers and deterrents. This class is being offered in partnership with Lyngso Garden Materials. Registration required.

Spring and Summer Vegetable Gardening

UC Master Gardeners

Belmont Library (Taube Room) and

Zoom Presentation

1110 Alameda de las Pulgas

Belmont, CA 94002

March 9, 2023, 6:30pm-7:30pm

It’s time to plant your spring garden and plan for your summer vegetables. We will cover soil preparation, indoor and outdoor seed propagation, and what to plant when. Bring your gardening questions. This class is offered in partnership with the San Mateo County Libraries. Note: This is a hybrid presentation: on Zoom and in-person. Registration required.

Succulents in Pots and in the Garden

UC Master Gardeners

San Francisco Public Library,

Mission Bay Branch

960 4th Street

San Francisco, CA 94158

March 12, 2023, 2:00pm-3:30pm

This class will provide a brief overview of the natural history of succulents along with succulent care and culture, including soils to use, pot selection, watering and light requirements. In addition, information will be presented on which plants do well in different Bay Area microclimates. Small succulent gardens in pots will be on display to show how arrangements can be made. Succulent cuttings will be available as “handouts” after the talk. No registration required. Read more.

Container Gardening with Succulents and Seed Swap

UC Master Gardeners

Half Moon Bay Library

620 Correas Street

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

March 13, 2023, 6:00pm-7:00pm

Does your patio or porch need dressing up? Learn everything you need to grow the most colorful and healthy succulent planters. This class will provide all the basic information you will need to design, plant and care for succulents in containers. If time allows, indoor succulent containers may also be discussed. This class is offered in partnership with San Mateo County Libraries. No registration required. Read more.

Unlocking the Magic of Native Plants in Your Garden

UC Master Gardeners

2415 University Avenue

East Palo Alto, CA 94303

March 14, 2023, 6:30pm-7:30pm

This workshop, designed with the home gardener in mind, will explore the magic and beauty of California native plants, discuss how vital they are for our pollinators and wildlife, and discover how to add California native plants to existing home gardens. We hope attendees will be inspired by this informational session and begin to appreciate and add native plants to their gardens. This class is offered in partnership with San Mateo County Libraries. Registration required.

Master Gardener School Garden Leaders Workshop

UC Master Gardeners

San Mateo School

Location provided upon registration

March 18, 2023, 9:00am-12:00pm

School Garden Leaders are welcome to come learn and share ideas at our spring in-person workshop. Topics covered at this session will be solar oven use at school, microgreens for the classroom, summer staple crops, and Native American usage of California native plants. The workshop fee is a $20 donation requested to support the UC Master Gardener Program. Registration required.

Spring and Summer Vegetable Gardening

UC Master Gardeners

Zoom presentation

March 18, 2023, 2:00pm-3:00pm

Anyone can grow fresh vegetables, no matter where they live or how much space they have. Learn what to plant and when in San Francisco’s unique microclimates, including soil management, pest management and container gardening. Registration required.

Growing and Fermenting Garden Vegetables

UC Master Gardeners

Zoom presentation

March 18, 2023, 2:00pm-3:00pm

The UC Master Food Preservers of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties team up with the Master Gardeners for a joint presentation on growing and fermenting for the early spring. Learn to grow several varieties of Asian vegetables in our Bay Area microclimates, then take the harvest to the kitchen to preserve it and turn it into a spicy and savory side dish by fermenting it. We'll present tips and best practices for caring for both garden vegetables and culinary microbes and you'll leave with a recipe for Baechu Kimchi. This class is being offered in partnership with the San Mateo County Libraries. Registration required.

To extend research-based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices to the residents of California and be guided by our core values and strategic initiatives." Follow us on our Website, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or YouTube channels.

PLANT PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC TOOL

Choose the affected plant from photos displayed, click on the photo, remove any selections that do not apply, click on the plant names, and continue to filter selections to view the results for a possible diagnoses. Learn more.

GARDENING RESOURCES

Select links to access gardening resources, California Backyard Orchard, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), publications, and finding a local Master Gardener program.  Learn more.

ARBORETUM ALL-STARS

Do you need help picking plants for your sustainable home garden? Selecting from the “Arboretum All-Stars” list is an easy way to start making “green” choices for your great looking garden. Arboretum All-Stars are top plants recommended by the horticultural staff of the UC Davis Arboretum. They thrive in California’s Mediterranean climate and have qualities that make them great choices for sustainable home gardens. Use a searchable plant database to pick the perfect All-Star for your garden conditions. For more information, view their website.

NATIVE PLANT RESOURCES

Looking for plants native to California that are not only pretty but are pollinators and drought resistant? A few resources are: Xerces Society, California Native Plant Society, and Calflora, Or try a native plant database for plants within your zip code. This website will help you find the best native plants specifically for your area that attract butterflies and moths and the birds that feed on their caterpillars, based on the scientific research of Dr. Douglas Tallamy and Research Assistant Kimberley Shropshire.

CALIFORNIA INVASIVE PLANT COUNCIL

Browse the website to see all plants on the California Invasive Plant Council inventory, including both invasive plants and “watch” species. Clicking on the scientific name will take you to the Plant Profile where you will find links to more information on the plant.

 UC Master Gardener volunteers are ready help you and your garden. Have a question about gardening? Have a pest problem? Curious about what will grow well in your region? Submit your inquiry online.

Or visit the Master Gardener Helpline by phone, email, on the web, or in person. For more information visit our website.