HOrT COCO-UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa

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Photo of a Dwarf Spider
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Spiders: Friends Not Foes

August 12th, 2024
By Help Desk Team
This time of year, as the heat increases and things start to get dusty, you might see a number of webs on your plants. Uh oh.
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Photo of shade cloth covering herbs and lettuce
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Beat the Heat with Shade Cloth

July 29th, 2024
By Help Desk Team
It's summertime! Our gardens are in full swing, tomatoes are beginning to ripen, berries are mostly done, and everything is lush and green. But beware, your plants can sunburn just like you.
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Photo of a vole
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The Invasion of the Voles

July 15th, 2024
By Help Desk Team
You really do not want voles (also called meadow mice) moving into your garden. They are larger than a house mouse or deer mouse but do not quite reach the size of an adult gopher or rat.
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Photo of blossom end rot
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Blossom End Rot

July 1st, 2024
By Help Desk Team
This post is a rerun from 2023. Have you noticed tomatoes that have round, water-soaked spots on the bottom? Blossom end rot (BER) is a frustrating problem that can be quite common in vegetable gardens, as it can affect tomatoes, peppers, and squash. You might notice it after a few very hot days.
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