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 MoreArugula
Arugula (also known as rocket) is a Mediterranean native that's grown for its delicious leaves; it lends a spicy, peppery… Read MoreAsparagus
Native to the seacoast of Europe, North Africa and Asia, asparagus is a long-lived and dependable home garden vegetable. What… Read MoreBeets
The beet is the most intense of vegetables. The radish, admittedly, is more feverish, but the fire of the radish… Read MoreBlueberries
Blueberries grow well in the Bay Area, but they need acidic soil and regular feeding. Amend soil with E.B. Stone… Read MoreCabbage 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 MoreCarrots
Carrots require deep sandy loam to produce long roots. If your soil is clay-like, you will need to amend it… Read MoreCucumbers
Cucumbers, by nature, are a cooling emollient. They are the perfect accompaniment for a summer meal; delicious when prepared as… Read MoreEdamame
A buttery legume often served boiled and then sprinkled with salt, Edamame are a favorite in many Japanese restaurants and… Read MoreEdible Hanging Basket
Hanging baskets don't take up much room or require a lot of care. Stuffed full of herbs and veggies, they… Read MoreEggplant
These members of the nightshade family need warm temperatures in order to blossom and fruit. Now that the soil has… Read MoreFigs
Fig trees are easy to grow in warm climates. They are not particular about soil and are just as happy in… Read MoreGarlic
"It is not really an exaggeration to say that peace and happiness begin, geographically, where garlic is used in cooking… Read MoreGeneral Citrus Care
EXPOSURE: Citrus require sun and warmth to thrive. Provide a site that has at least 6 hours of sun and… Read MoreGrapes
If you live in California, you should grow grapes! This quintessential California vine is grown for its fresh fruit, wine, shade… Read MoreGreen Beans
There are over 5,000 varieties of beans. For every pole bean there is a bush bean with numerous colors and… Read MoreHerbs: Basil
Basil needs well-drained soil, plenty of sun, and regular water (but beware of over watering). Basil can be planted in the… Read MoreHerbs: 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 MoreHerbs: Cilantro
How to grow Cilantro Well-drained soil is essential when growing cilantro. If drainage is poor, work in plenty of organic matter… Read MoreHerbs: 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 MoreHerbs: Parsley
An honest laborious countryman, with good bread, salt and a little parsley, will make a contented meal with a roasted… Read MoreHerbs: 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 MoreHerbs: sage
Culinary sage (also known as garden sage or common sage) is a type of salvia, which is the largest genus… Read MoreHerbs: 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 MoreHerbs: Thyme
Thymes are so versatile and varied; more than fifty varieties are grown for both culinary or ornamental purposes! Thyme's flavor… Read MoreKale
This hardy, cool season cabbage relative is grown for its leaves which can be steamed, stir fried, sauteed or added… Read MoreKitchen 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 MoreKohlrabi
This under-appreciated, yet beautiful, cool season vegetable could use a little love...and there really is a lot to love! Kohlrabi is… Read MoreLavender
Unbranched flower spikes bloom from June to September. Butterflies and bees love them! Mass for a dramatic display; grow singly… Read MoreLeeks
How to grow Leeks Botanically speaking, leeks are an onion relative, but they don't form a distinct bulb. Leeks grow 2… Read MoreMelon
This delicious tropical fruit can be grown without much planning in warm parts of the Bay Area. In cooler micro-climates… Read MoreMustard 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 MoreOlives
Olea europaea is perhaps the quintessential Mediterranean tree. A staple of our landscape, we appreciate their beauty and ability to… Read MorePeas
There’s something special about peas. From snow peas and snap peas with edible pods to shelling peas and pea sprouts… Read MorePeppers
These members of the nightshade family need warm temperatures in order to blossom and fruit. When the soil has warmed and… Read MorePersimmon
Persimmon trees are tolerant of a variety of soils, as long as drainage is good. This tree reaches 30ft tall… Read MorePlanting Seeds with Kids
Children love to plant seeds in the soil and watch them grow into flowers and vegetables. Planting in containers is… Read MorePotatoes
Growing potatoes is simple and offers a rewarding gardening experience for two reasons: 1. Planting a small amount can yield… Read MorePumpkins
Growing Pumpkins Pumpkins are related to squash, gourd and watermelon in the Cucurbitaceae family. They vary greatly in size (depending on… Read MoreRadishes
"I was holding this really exemplary radish in my hand. I was admiring its shape and size and color. I… Read MoreRoot vegetables
Late summer into fall is an ideal time to start root vegetables from seed. Favorites are carrots, beets and onions. Onions… Read MoreSalad Greens
The simple beauty of salad greens is that they are so easy to grow. Whether you plant by seed or… Read MoreSpinach
Since our Bay Area winters are so mild, spinach seeds can be grown anytime, especially as a fall, winter, and… Read MoreStrawberries
The strawberry (Fragaria hybrida) is derived from several species originating in the Americas and Europe. They are not called strawberries… Read MoreSummer & 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 MoreSwiss chard
Swiss chard is a most interesting leafy vegetable. If you look closely at its leaves, you'll notice that it looks a… Read MoreTomatoes
The taste of homegrown tomatoes right off the vine is truly a small slice of heaven. Read our planting and care… Read MoreVegetables in Containers
Container gardening is the ideal solution for gardeners with limited space -- you can grow vegetables and herbs in window… Read MoreWinter 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.