Food Gardening Guides

Aloe is a soothing medicinal plant for kitchen, grill and sun burns. It’s beach and barbecue season. A time of the year when our exposure to the sun increases and […]

The artichoke plant (Cynara scolymus) is native to the southern Mediterranean areas of Europe.  In itself, it is a handsome perennial plant specimen, well suited to the background of a […]

Arugula (also known as rocket) is a Mediterranean native that’s grown for its delicious leaves; it lends a spicy, peppery zing to salads, pizza and even pesto. Arugula is very easy […]

Native to the seacoast of Europe, North Africa and Asia, asparagus is a long-lived and dependable home garden vegetable. What a treat to grow it yourself! Growing asparagus is an […]

Basil needs well-drained soil, plenty of sun, and regular water (but beware of over watering). Basil can be planted in the ground or in a container…it will also do well planted […]

The beet is the most intense of vegetables. The radish, admittedly, is more feverish, but the fire of the radish is a cold fire, the fire of discontent, not of […]

Blueberries grow well in the Bay Area, but they need acidic soil and regular feeding. Amend soil with E.B. Stone Azalea, Camellia and Gardenia Mix. If planting in containers, this […]

Carrots require deep sandy loam to produce long roots. If your soil is clay-like, you will need to amend it with a good amount of compost, Planting Mix, or Loam […]

By Mary Helen Seeger, Four Winds Growers * People often ask us about frost protection and other citrus winter care questions, so here are a few tips. 1. Check foliage. […]

A buttery legume often served boiled and then sprinkled with salt, Edamame are a favorite in many Japanese restaurants and at home. Edamame are immature soybeans in the pod (or […]

Hanging baskets don’t take up much room or require a lot of care. Stuffed full of herbs and veggies, they can offer beauty and fragrance as well as the ingredients […]

Please note: gardeners in the East Bay (Danville, Concord and Pleasant Hill) should wait until September to plant broccoli. Late summer is the ideal time to plant Brassicas (Broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, […]

Fig trees are easy to grow in warm climates. They are not particular about soil and are just as happy in a large container as they are in the ground. They […]

“It is not really an exaggeration to say that peace and happiness begin, geographically, where garlic is used in cooking.” – X. Marcel Boulestin (1878-1943)   Garlic is one of […]

EXPOSURE: Citrus require sun and warmth to thrive. Provide a site that has at least 6 hours of sun and is relatively wind free. A southern exposure is best. In […]

If you live in California, you should grow grapes! This quintessential California vine is grown for its fresh fruit, wine, shade and fall color. A single grapevine can produce enough new […]

There are over 5,000 varieties of beans. For every pole bean there is a bush bean with numerous colors and shapes. Because beans readily cross with each other, the possible […]

An honest laborious countryman, with good bread, salt and a little parsley, will make a contented meal with a roasted onion. — John Evelyn (1620-1706) Time to re-think parsley; it’s […]

Cucumbers, by nature, are a cooling emollient. They are the perfect accompaniment for a summer meal; delicious when prepared as a simple pickle, eaten raw in salads, or used with […]

These members of the nightshade family need warm temperatures in order to blossom and fruit. Now that the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed, eggplant can […]

These members of the nightshade family need warm temperatures in order to blossom and fruit. When the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed, peppers can be planted […]

Bay Laurel is one of our favorite Mediterranean natives. Its oval, dark-green, leathery, aromatic leaves provide a peppery addition to a Bouquet Garni, the traditional herb bundle used to flavor soups, stews and stocks. […]

GROWING Most herbs like six to eight hours of full sun. Don’t worry, in our coastal regions the sun is still penetrating through the fog. Well-drained soil is essential. If […]

How to grow Cilantro Well-drained soil is essential when growing cilantro. If drainage is poor, work in plenty of organic matter or grow in raised beds or containers. Also work […]

Culinary sage (also known as garden sage or common sage) is a type of salvia, which is the largest genus in the mint family. Sage is easy to grow and […]

How to grow Tarragon Tarragon is not a fussy herb…give it a little care and you’ll soon have a prolific amount to flavor meat dishes, sauces and dressings. As for […]

Thymes are so versatile and varied; more than fifty varieties are grown for both culinary or ornamental purposes! Thyme’s flavor heightens that of most any food. Types of Thyme The […]

This hardy, cool season cabbage relative is grown for its leaves which can be steamed, stir fried, sauteed or added to soups. A member of the wild mustard family, it […]

This under-appreciated, yet beautiful, cool season vegetable could use a little love…and there really is a lot to love! Kohlrabi is a german word that means “cabbage turnip”. It’s an […]

Unbranched flower spikes bloom from June to September. Butterflies and bees love them! Mass for a dramatic display; grow singly as a lovely accent; plant a fragrant border; grow by […]

How to grow Leeks Botanically speaking, leeks are an onion relative, but they don’t form a distinct bulb. Leeks grow 2 to 3 ft tall, with an edible, mild-flavored stem […]

This delicious tropical fruit can be grown without much planning in warm parts of the Bay Area. In cooler micro-climates, it makes sense to plant varieties that are smaller and […]

Olea europaea is perhaps the quintessential Mediterranean tree. A staple of our landscape, we appreciate their beauty and ability to produce olives for curing or oil. The olive tree’s willow-like […]

There’s something special about peas. From snow peas and snap peas with edible pods to shelling peas and pea sprouts, all are worth growing. Easy to grow, start them from […]

Persimmon trees are tolerant of a variety of soils, as long as drainage is good. This tree reaches 30ft tall and at least as wide. Persimmon trees have a handsome […]

It doesn’t seem so long ago when Alice Waters and others developing California cuisine started introducing us all to arugula and mizuna. No longer just in specialty shops, piquant mixes […]

Kids love the magic of planting seeds and seeing them grow. Container gardening is an ideal way to begin-it’s simple, space-saving, and easy to control. By giving kids several containers […]

Growing potatoes is simple and offers a rewarding gardening experience for two reasons: 1. Planting a small amount can yield an abundance. 2. Harvesting them feels like finding a hidden, […]

Growing Pumpkins Pumpkins are related to squash, gourd and watermelon in the Cucurbitaceae family. They vary greatly in size (depending on variety), have sprawling vines, and need lots of room; […]

“I was holding this really exemplary radish in my hand. I was admiring its shape and size and color. I was imagining its zesty, biting taste. And when I listened, […]

Aromatic….dazzling…ubiquitous.  Rosemary is a truly versatile plant with year-round interest. This herb is an evergreen perennial with edible purple flowers and highly fragrant needle like leaves. The myriad forms of rosemary […]

The simple beauty of salad greens is that they are so easy to grow.  Whether you plant by seed or set out transplants, you can have fresh greens year round. […]

Since our Bay Area winters are so mild, spinach seeds can be grown anytime, especially as a fall, winter, and early spring crop. Sow spinach seeds in a single layer […]

For the squash lovers among us, it’s time to get planting. Summer squash is planted for warm weather harvest and picked when immature. Their skins are soft and they can be […]

The strawberry (Fragaria hybrida) is derived from several species originating in the Americas and Europe. They are not called strawberries because it is common to grow or mulch them in […]

Swiss chard is a most interesting leafy vegetable. If you look closely at its leaves, you’ll notice that it looks a lot like a beet. Actually, it IS a form of […]

The taste of homegrown tomatoes right off the vine is truly a small slice of heaven. Read our planting and care instructions to learn how to grow award winning tomatoes! SOIL: Well-drained […]

Container gardening is the ideal solution for gardeners with limited space — you can grow vegetables and herbs in window boxes, hanging baskets, on balconies, patio, decks, and doorsteps. Containers […]

Late summer into fall is an ideal time to start root vegetables from seed. Favorites are carrots, beets and onions. Onions do best planted by seed or transplants in the […]