UC Master Gardeners of Orange County

In The Garden Radio Show
Thursday, June 25
8:30 to 9:30am KUCI Radio 88.9 FM
or Live Stream Online

Don’t think you have space for a garden? Think again! This week on In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners of Orange County, we're sharing tips and tricks to grow veggies and ornamentals in small spaces. Master Gardeners Sally Richards and Ann Liu will share ways to carve out a garden right where you are, in whatever space you've got available.

Can't Tune In for the live show? Catch it later on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! Search 'In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners' and never miss an episode.





photo: StockSnap via Pixabay
description: Close up of radio station microphone, nondescript blurred blue and gold background

🐝 It's National Pollinator Week!

Did you know 1 in 3 bites of food exists because of pollinators? Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, even bats, are quietly powering your garden and your grocery basket.

Here's how to roll out the welcome mat, and invite more pollinators into your garden...

Plant natives, they're perfectly adapted to our SoCal climate and pollinators love them.
Aim for continuous blooms from spring through fall.
Set out a shallow dish of water for bees.
Skip the pesticides whenever you can.

Want to dig deeper? UC Master Gardeners of Orange County offer free classes countywide to help you create a pollinator-friendly garden.

🔗 Link in bio for our class schedule!






Credit: Canva
Description: A dark green background decorated with poppies, lavender, a butterfly and bee announce Pollinator Week. UC Master Gardeners of Orange County, Pollinator Week, 6/22 to 6/28.

Summer Days are here!

Summer begins with the solstice on Sunday, June 21, 2026, marking the astronomical first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. What exactly IS the summer solstice? Is it really the longest day of the year? In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs when the Sun travels along its northernmost path in the sky. It’s really not the longest day of the year. What it is, the day with the longest period of daylight.

So, vegetables that are very happy this time of year are those that do best in full sun (6+hours, ideally 8-10 hours) and include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, corn, beans, melons, and pumpkins. These crops rely on extended sunlight to maximize photosynthesis, fruit development, and flavor intensity. Root and flower vegetables like carrots, beets, radishes, broccoli, and cauliflower can tolerate slightly less sun but still benefit from 6-8 hours of direct light.

So-called Long-Day flowering plants require more than 12 hours of light to initiate
flowering, and these plants are very happy to be in your garden right now. Some examples of these are sunflowers, petunias, snapdragons, black-eyed Susans, Shasta daisies, purple cornflowers and purple coneflowers.

UC Master Gardeners of Orange County encourage you to get outside, plant something you like to eat, and enjoy these long, warm summer days!





photo: Pexels
description: Pale background in very light green and blue says Welcome Summer, we've been waiting for you! A beautiful sunrise over the ocean. The sky is bright blue, with light clouds, and five seagulls flying along the shoreline.

Summer arrives this weekend and that means more daylight, more growing, more reasons to be outside. Here's what UC Master Gardeners of Orange County has happening this week...

June 21, from 10:00am to 2:00pm
Ask a Master Gardener
Casa Romantica
415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA
Stop by our booth with all of your gardening questions.

June 23, from 10:00am to 11:00am
Garden Scene Investigator
Laguna Woods Public Library
24266 El Toro Rd, Laguna Woods, CA
The right observation skills and a few trusted online resources can solve almost any garden mystery. Let us show you how!

June 24, from 10:00am to 11:00am
Tend The Soil
Fullerton Community Center
340 W Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, CA
Healthy soil equals a healthy garden. Join us and learn to give your garden the boost it needs!

June 26, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Integrated Pest Management - IPM
Anaheim Public Library - Canyon Hills Branch
400 South Scout Trail, Anaheim Hills, CA
Got pests? There's a smarter way than reaching for the spray bottle — join us to learn best practices with Integrated Pest Management.





Credit: Pixabay & UC Regents

🌿 June is Perennial Gardening Month! 🌿

Did you know that perennial plants are one of the best investments you can make in your garden? Unlike annuals, these long lived plants come back year after year, offering benefits backed by UC research.

Plant once, enjoy for years – Perennials save you time and money since you don't need to replant every season.

Stronger roots, healthier soil – Because they stay in place longer, perennials develop stronger and more extensive root systems that improve soil structure over time.

Built for our climate – Many California-friendly perennials are low maintenance and low water users, making them perfect for sustainable, water-wise gardens.

Less fuss, less fertilizer – Once established, well-suited perennials typically require less irrigation, fertilizer, and pest control than non-native species.

A boost for pollinators – Many California native perennials, like California Fuchsia, are a hummingbird favorite and support local wildlife year-round.

This month, consider adding a few perennials to your garden. Your future self (and the bees!) will thank you.

Want plant suggestions for our Orange County climate? Drop a comment below!





credit: Canva
description: UC Master Gardeners of Orange County, share Perennial Garden Month. Spikes of a sage shrub bloom in shades of purple, from green buds.

Happy National Eat Your Veggies Day!

What's better than eating your veggies? Growing them yourself!

UC Master Gardeners of Orange County offer FREE classes all across the county, teaching home gardeners the best practices for growing your own fruits and vegetables right in your backyard. Whether you're a total beginner or a seasoned grower, there's always something new to learn — from soil prep and watering to pest management and harvest tips, we've got you covered!

This National Eat Your Veggies Day, we're celebrating the joy of going from seed to table. Check out our upcoming classes and start growing your own delicious, healthy veggies today! Link in bio





Credit: Canva
Description: Green background announces UC Master Gardeners of Orange County,
June 17 National Eat Your Vegetables Day,
UC Master Gardener, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
4 photos show a close up of asparagus tips, a group of brightly colored peppers, yellow and green squash, and a group of red cherry tomatoes.

In The Garden Radio Show
Thursday, June 18, 8:30 to 9:30am
KUCI Radio 88.9FM
or Live Stream Online

This week on In The Garden with UC Master Gardeners of Orange County, Katrina Kirkeby sits down with Teena Spindler to talk about what it takes to grow your own garden plants in containers. It's a perfect topic for those of us living in the more densely populated parts of Orange County — or anywhere you just don't have the space for even one full-sized orange tree!

From buckets and feed troughs to kettle grills, cowboy boots, and baby shoes — if it has holes for drainage, you can plant in it. Edibles, succulents, fruit trees, you name it! Tune in and take notes for fun projects like "Salsa Pots," "Bruschetta Pots," or whatever fill-in-the-blank, food-themed container garden suits your fancy!

Missed the live show? Catch it later on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! Search 'In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners' and never miss an episode.





photo: StockSnap via Pixabay
description: Close up of radio station microphone, nondescript blurred blue and gold background

UC Master Gardeners of Orange County is offering a full week of gardening presentations, covering everything from edible gardening to beneficial and harmful garden insects. All are welcome — join us for one session or the entire week!
Full class information on Website, Link in Bio🔗

Beneficial Insects
June 15, 2026 from 10:00am to 11:00am
Sea Country Senior Center
24602 Aliso Creek Road, Laguna Niguel, CA
No registration required

Gardening in Small Spaces
June 15, 2026 from 10:00am to 11:00am
Lakeview Senior Center
20 Lake Rd, Irvine, CA
No registration required

What's Bugging My Garden
June 15, 2026 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Zoom Presentation
*Registration Required for Zoom Link
https://ucanr.zoom.us/meeting/register/cpFsIWRXSzC_m7fXiwzK_A #/registration

Amazing Avocados
June 16, 2026 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Rancho Santa Margarita Public Library
30902 La Promesa, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
No registration required

Growing Herbs
June 20, 2026 from 11:00am to 12:00pm
Fullerton Public Library
353 W Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, CA
No registration required

Tomatoes - Pests & Diseases
June 20, 2026 from 11:00am to 12:00pm
Laguna Beach Public Library
363 Glenneyre, Laguna Beach, CA
No registration required





Photo Credit: Pat Photographies & UC Regents

Every garden starts with one small step and we are here to walk alongside you!

Whether you're a first-time grower with a single pot or a seasoned gardener ready to take things to the next level, there's a place for you in our community.

This National Gardening Week, the UC Master Gardeners of Orange County are celebrating you and every size of space you're working with. Windowsill, patio, raised bed, or full backyard — it all counts, and it all grows!

We invite you to join us in our gardening classes across Orange County. We share research-based information on topics like edible gardening, composting, water-wise plants, and so much more? Our programs are designed for all skill levels, so whether you're just curious or ready to dig deep, we'd love to see you there.

Let's grow something beautiful together. Follow us here, and sign up for our Newsletter to hear about upcoming classes and events!





credit: Canva
description: A path leads to a wooden bench in a lush green garden. Shrubs line the path on either side, and pink roses and other blooming plants grow in garden beds.

PSA: Invasive Pest Alert!
Updated May 29, 2026 at 4:30pm

An invasive insect called the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) has been found on grapevine shipments sold at select Costco locations in Northern California between April 21 and May 21, 2026. Note that the timeframe for grapevine plants sold at Costco has been extended to April 21–May 21. This is an evolving situation, and officials are continuing to investigate shipments and update affected areas as new information becomes available. The Pierce’s Disease Control Program, county agricultural commissioners and Costco are actively responding to the situation.

Costco is not at fault and is cooperating with CDFA's response.

If you or someone you know has recently purchase a grape plant at Costco, please read this article to know what to do, what NOT to do, and how to help limit the spread of the insect and the disease it carries.

Full Article:
UCANR.edu/blog/pests-urban-landscape/article/purchased-grapevine-costco-n-ca-recently-read





Credit: Kev Pro via Canva
description: Red background with white board states IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT. Invasive Pest Alert: An invasive insect called the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) has been found on grapevine shipments sold at select Costco locations in Northern California between April 21 and May 21, 2026.
Additional information on our page!