The Morgan Hill Community Garden

10/04/2026

We hope you’ll join us next week for our composting workshop! Learn how to help the planet and support your soil, all while enjoying your community with a nice refreshment…what could be better?! 🪱👩‍🌾👨‍🌾🍂

09/21/2026

Talia‘s MHCG bounty 🥰

09/10/2026

Fall gardening is almost here 🍂

Join us for our Fall Garden Fair, held at our Martial Cottle Park Demonstration Garden in San Jose.

Saturday, October 3, 2026
9:00 am to 2:00 pm

More info: https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/fall-garden-fair

UC Master Gardener, University of California
Agriculture & Natural Resources

Fall Garden Fair
Saturday, October 3 9 am-2 pm
Master Gardener Demo Garden
Martial Cottle Park, San Jose

Plant Sales: Cool season vegetables, herbs, natives, ornamentals, succulents, shallots and garlic

Talks: Container Gardening, Fall Vegetables, Growing Garlic, Cover Crops and More
Help Desk: Have a question? Seek advice from Master Gardeners.

Children's Activities: See our booth for fun kids' activities

Info Booths: Learn to sharpen your tools, irrigation help, The Repair Cafe & more!

Seed Swap: Share and receive free seeds
Master Gardener Garden, 351 Chynoweth Ave.
(inside Martial Cottle Park, adjacent to Chynoweth)

Free Event. Parking on-site: $6
Limited free parking on Chynoweth Ave.

Operated In partnership with Santa Clara County Parks & Recreation

09/10/2026

Soaking up the end of summer sunsets at the garden 🌅

08/22/2026

Fall garden fair alert! October 3 @ Martial Cottle Park in San Jose

Join us for our Fall Garden Fair, held at our Martial Cottle Park Demonstration Garden in San Jose.

Saturday, October 3, 2026
9:00 am to 2:00 pm

More info: https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/fall-garden-fair

08/18/2026

Plus sage smells amazing 🤩

08/17/2026

New crop time! 🥬🥬🥬

It’s Time To Start Thinking About Your Cool Season Garden!

We are fortunate to be able to grow vegetables year round in Santa Clara County — just try to resist the urge to brag about that to your friends and family in the Midwest or New England 😉

Take a look at our vegetable planting chart to see what you can grow: https://mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu/garden-help/vegetables/vegetable-planting-chart/

Definitely consider adding some cilantro to your garden beds. It doesn’t bolt in the fall and winter like it does in the summer months. You can have lots of Taco Tuesdays in January & February!! Pro tip: plant it from seeds rather than seedlings. Just keep the area moist while it’s germinating. Need limes for your Taco Tuesdays in January/February? That’s also when the Bearss limes are ripe! Consider planting one of those before winter’s chilly days set in.

08/17/2026

Great insight on the importance of all critters in our gardens. 🪲🖤

08/13/2026

Sunflowers 🌻 for the birdies 🐦

Question: What’s Eating These Sunflower Leaves?!

Answer: It’s not insects… it’s finches, probably house finches or lesser goldfinches. They love to nibble on large leafed plants.

The main diet of adult finches is seeds and plant material… not bugs.

There’s not a lot you can do to discourage them. You can try hanging sparkly ribbons or other reflective items that might discourage the birds from coming near the plants. But really the small amount of holes from the nibbles they take won’t kill the plant. While it may not make the plant leaves look beautiful, in the grand scheme of things, finches are kinda adorable… so we hope you’ll forgive the finches and let things be.

More info: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=44000

08/06/2026

Fertilizer facts!

All About Fertilizer

Three of the most important nutrients for plant growth are nitrogen 👎, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).

The NPK numbers listed on all commercial fertilizers represent the percentages of these macro-nutrients.

For example, fertilizer labeled 5-10-5, would contain 5% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 5% potassium by weight. The remaining 80% are filler to facilitate the spread of the fertilizer.

Nitrogen encourages healthy leaf growth. Phosphorus promotes good seed germination, healthy seedlings, flowers, fruits and root growth. Potassium (aka Potash) contributes to the overall health, and makes the plants more stress and disease resistance.

Organic fertilizers feed the soil, chemical fertilizers feed the plant. Organic fertilizers must be incorporated into the soil where micro-organisms will release their nutrients as they decompose. The chemical fertilizer (except slow-release fertilizer) is best dissolved in the water before feeding to the plant.

Organic sources of nitrogen include alfalfa meal (4-1-1), blood meal (11-3-0), fish meal (10-6-2), soy bean meal (7-2-1), cottonseed meal (6-0-1), and fish scrap (5-3-0). Phosphorus is high in bone meal (2-5-0) and fish meal (10-6-0). Potassium is high in kelp meal (1-0.8-4) and wood ashes (0-2-6).

Many vegetables benefit from some complete fertilizer (5-10-5, 5-10-10, and 12-12-12). Soil tests can help you decide what nutrients are needed but nitrogen is commonly needed replenishing. Consider light but frequent applications every 3 to 4 weeks. Avoid letting the fertilizer come into contact with the plant stems to avoid burning.

Thank you to Master Gardener Donna Lee for this info.

https://ucanr.edu/blog/real-dirt/article/understanding-fertilizers-and-amendments

Photo: Fertilizer bag sample label, Dennis R. Pittenger, California Master Gardener Handbook