Food Gardening Guides

See the best time to plant vegetables by viewing our Planting Chart.

Visit the Sloat Recipe Box for a collection of recipes to make with your garden harvest.

Learn about Victory Gardens.

  • Artichokes

    The artichoke plant (Cynara scolymus) is native to the southern Mediterranean areas of Europe.  In itself, it is a handsome… Read More
  • Arugula

    Arugula (also known as rocket) is a Mediterranean native that's grown for its delicious leaves; it lends a spicy, peppery… Read More
  • Asparagus

    Native to the seacoast of Europe, North Africa and Asia, asparagus is a long-lived and dependable home garden vegetable. What… Read More
  • Beets

    The beet is the most intense of vegetables. The radish, admittedly, is more feverish, but the fire of the radish… Read More
  • Blueberries

    Blueberries grow well in the Bay Area, but they need acidic soil and regular feeding. Amend soil with E.B. Stone… Read More
  • Cabbage and Broccoli: the Brassica Family

    Please note: gardeners in the East Bay (Danville, Concord and Pleasant Hill) should wait until September to plant broccoli. Late summer is… Read More
  • Carrots

    Carrots require deep sandy loam to produce long roots. If your soil is clay-like, you will need to amend it… Read More
  • Cucumbers

    Cucumbers, by nature, are a cooling emollient. They are the perfect accompaniment for a summer meal; delicious when prepared as… Read More
  • Edamame

    A buttery legume often served boiled and then sprinkled with salt, Edamame are a favorite in many Japanese restaurants and… Read More
  • Edible Hanging Basket

    Hanging baskets don't take up much room or require a lot of care. Stuffed full of herbs and veggies, they… Read More
  • Eggplant

    These members of the nightshade family need warm temperatures in order to blossom and fruit. Now that the soil has… Read More
  • Figs

    Fig trees are easy to grow in warm climates. They are not particular about soil and are just as happy in… Read More
  • Garlic

    "It is not really an exaggeration to say that peace and happiness begin, geographically, where garlic is used in cooking… Read More
  • General Citrus Care

    EXPOSURE: Citrus require sun and warmth to thrive. Provide a site that has at least 6 hours of sun and… Read More
  • Grapes

    If you live in California, you should grow grapes! This quintessential California vine is grown for its fresh fruit, wine, shade… Read More
  • Green Beans

    There are over 5,000 varieties of beans. For every pole bean there is a bush bean with numerous colors and… Read More
  • Herbs: Basil

    Basil needs well-drained soil, plenty of sun, and regular water (but beware of over watering). Basil can be planted in the… Read More
  • Herbs: Bay Laurel

    Bay Laurel is one of our favorite Mediterranean natives. Its oval, dark-green, leathery, aromatic leaves provide a peppery addition to a Bouquet… Read More
  • Herbs: Cilantro

    How to grow Cilantro Well-drained soil is essential when growing cilantro. If drainage is poor, work in plenty of organic matter… Read More
  • Herbs: general growing & care

    GROWING Most herbs like six to eight hours of full sun. Don’t worry, in our coastal regions the sun is still… Read More
  • Herbs: Parsley

    An honest laborious countryman, with good bread, salt and a little parsley, will make a contented meal with a roasted… Read More
  • Herbs: Rosemary

    Aromatic….dazzling…ubiquitous.  Rosemary is a truly versatile plant with year-round interest. This herb is an evergreen perennial with edible purple flowers and… Read More
  • Herbs: sage

    Culinary sage (also known as garden sage or common sage) is a type of salvia, which is the largest genus… Read More
  • Herbs: Tarragon

    How to grow Tarragon Tarragon is not a fussy herb...give it a little care and you'll soon have a prolific amount… Read More
  • Herbs: Thyme

    Thymes are so versatile and varied; more than fifty varieties are grown for both culinary or ornamental purposes! Thyme's flavor… Read More
  • Kale

    This hardy, cool season cabbage relative is grown for its leaves which can be steamed, stir fried, sauteed or added… Read More
  • Kitchen Burn Helper: Aloe Vera

    Aloe is a soothing medicinal plant for kitchen, grill and sun burns. It's beach and barbecue season. A time of the… Read More
  • Kohlrabi

    This under-appreciated, yet beautiful, cool season vegetable could use a little love...and there really is a lot to love! Kohlrabi is… Read More
  • Lavender

    Unbranched flower spikes bloom from June to September. Butterflies and bees love them! Mass for a dramatic display; grow singly… Read More
  • Leeks

    How to grow Leeks Botanically speaking, leeks are an onion relative, but they don't form a distinct bulb. Leeks grow 2… Read More
  • Melon

    This delicious tropical fruit can be grown without much planning in warm parts of the Bay Area. In cooler micro-climates… Read More
  • Mustard Greens & Mizuna: Piquant Greens

    It doesn’t seem so long ago when Alice Waters and others developing California cuisine started introducing us all to arugula… Read More
  • Olives

    Olea europaea is perhaps the quintessential Mediterranean tree. A staple of our landscape, we appreciate their beauty and ability to… Read More
  • Peas

    There’s something special about peas. From snow peas and snap peas with edible pods to shelling peas and pea sprouts… Read More
  • Peppers

    These members of the nightshade family need warm temperatures in order to blossom and fruit. When the soil has warmed and… Read More
  • Persimmon

    Persimmon trees are tolerant of a variety of soils, as long as drainage is good. This tree reaches 30ft tall… Read More
  • Planting Seeds with Kids

    Children love to plant seeds in the soil and watch them grow into flowers and vegetables. Planting in containers is… Read More
  • Potatoes

    Growing potatoes is simple and offers a rewarding gardening experience for two reasons: 1. Planting a small amount can yield… Read More
  • Pumpkins

    Growing Pumpkins Pumpkins are related to squash, gourd and watermelon in the Cucurbitaceae family. They vary greatly in size (depending on… Read More
  • Radishes

    "I was holding this really exemplary radish in my hand. I was admiring its shape and size and color. I… Read More
  • Root vegetables

    Late summer into fall is an ideal time to start root vegetables from seed. Favorites are carrots, beets and onions. Onions… Read More
  • Salad Greens

    The simple beauty of salad greens is that they are so easy to grow.  Whether you plant by seed or… Read More
  • Spinach

    Since our Bay Area winters are so mild, spinach seeds can be grown anytime, especially as a fall, winter, and… Read More
  • Strawberries

    The strawberry (Fragaria hybrida) is derived from several species originating in the Americas and Europe. They are not called strawberries… Read More
  • Summer & Winter Squash

    For the squash lovers among us, it's time to get planting. Summer squash is planted for warm weather harvest and picked… Read More
  • Swiss chard

    Swiss chard is a most interesting leafy vegetable. If you look closely at its leaves, you'll notice that it looks a… Read More
  • Tomatoes

    The taste of homegrown tomatoes right off the vine is truly a small slice of heaven. Read our planting and care… Read More
  • Vegetables in Containers

    Container gardening is the ideal solution for gardeners with limited space -- you can grow vegetables and herbs in window… Read More
  • Winter Citrus Care

    By Mary Helen Seeger, Four Winds Growers * People often ask us about frost protection and other citrus winter care questions… Read More

Curious if we have your favorite plant or product in stock? Call one of our locations directly and we'll be happy to check.