Fall Garden Fair Gardening Talks 2024

Tips for Saving Seeds

Did you know that many but not all seeds can be saved and regrown to have the same properties as their parent generations? Master Gardener Mint Pasakdee will explain the science of seed saving and how to successfully save seeds for future uses. She will also discuss tips on seed storage and how to share and exchange seeds with local gardeners.

Growing Cool Season Vegetables

We are lucky that we can grow cool season vegetables in Santa Clara County! With our cool (but not cold) rainy season, we can grow all sorts of vegetables, from greens such as lettuce, chard, and kale, to cruciferous veggies like broccoli and cauliflower, to root vegetables like beets, carrots, and radishes. Learn what you can grow with Master Gardener Laura Westley. She’ll go over the basics, such as soil, water, and fertilizing requirements, and show all the plants that do great here!

Invasive Species: Alien Intruders in Our Gardens and Green Spaces

Invasive species come in many forms and arrive through various means, but they all share one thing in common: a disproportionate impact on our lives. These invaders harm our environment, economy, recreation, public health, and increase our vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change. Learn about the alien species affecting Santa Clara County and find out what you can do to help combat these growing threats with Master Gardener Pamela Trounstine.

Planting & Maintaining your New California Native Plants

Now that you’ve got them, what are you going to do with them? Learn tried & true methods for ensuring your new babies get the best start possible, from prep to putting them in the ground to making it through their first year. Join Master Gardener Paula Stapleton to learn about planting and maintaining your California native garden.

Cover Crops: The 3 R’s for Fall Soil — Remove, Recover, and Replenish

At the end of our summer growing season our soil has produced what we hope was a bountiful harvest of summer produce. Now you have to pay the soil back for all this wonderful garden production. And how do we make all this happen? By planting cover crops! Join Master Gardener Bob Bowe to learn how the 3 R’s will enrich your soil for the next season’s garden.

Vermicomposting

Join Master Gardener/Master Composter Pam White for a demonstration and hands-on building activity to learn how to set up a vermicompost (worm) bin. This is an audience participation talk and children are welcome to attend with their parents. Setting up a worm compost system requires just a few ingredients and weekly care. A worm bin can easily be located on a balcony, under an office desk, or in a shaded location in your yard. Children and any adults may make a small version of a bin while a large bin build is demonstrated. Materials are provided. This may be the perfect family project. Vermicomposting will help slow climate change, reduce food waste, and create slow-release fertilizer for your plants. Come join the messy fun!

Garden Mixology: Grow Your Own Low-Impact Drinks

Join our Garden-to-Glass talk and learn how to turn your garden space into a living pantry for tasty drinks. We’ll dive into specific plant species for growing in raised beds, expand your plant knowledge, and share eco-friendly tips on water conservation.

Starting a Home Orchard

So you want to plant a fruit tree… Great! Here are a few things you can do this fall so you are ready to plant trees that will thrive this spring. Topics will include where to plant, how much space you need, soil prep, watering system, and choosing the trees that will give you the fruit you like best. Join Master Gardener Don Bollinger in the Martial Cottle orchard to learn about this exciting topic.

Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention with the California Department of Food and Agriculture

Join D Maeesomy, Agricultural Pest Control Supervisor of the Northern District for the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division at the CDFA, in our orchard for an educational demonstration of citrus pest and disease survey and monitoring techniques.

Starting Garlic and Shallots

Fall is the ideal time to start planting garlic and shallots. Join Master Gardener Aparna Bugwadia to learn about the optimal soil, fertilization, location, and water requirements for the most flavorful garlic and shallots. The demonstration will include seed spacing and growing garlic and shallots in containers.