Welcome to UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County

Nevada County gardens vary widely. Elevations range from 1,000 to 4,000 feet. Soil types are red clay, serpentine, sandy loam, forest loam or something in-between. Generally acidic, soils may lack necessary nutrients and organic matter. Some gardens are below the snowline, while others are often covered with snow and may have frozen soil for an extended time. We know that “One size does not fit all.” Gardening in Nevada County is unlike gardening elsewhere and it is not the same throughout the county. Master Gardeners are here to provide home gardeners in Nevada County with science-based information, whatever their gardening conditions. And, Master Gardeners offer a number of workshops and events to achieve this goal. 

FALL PLANT SALE!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 9AM TO NOON

Vegetables and Ornamentals will be available for sale...

Partial List of Plants Available for Purchase at the NCMG Fall Plant Sale 2016

Ask a Question

Do you have a question about gardening? Click here to find out how to reach us. 

News from Our Demonstration Garden

Come visit the Demonstration Garden at 1036 W. Main Street, Grass Valley, on the NID grounds.  If you would like to schedule a group tour led by a Master Gardener, please call our Hotline office (530) 273-0919.

The delicate fragrance of the Sweet Autumn Clematis ((Clematis terniflora) is a sure sign fall is in the air. Gently arching over the decorative bench, the Sweet Autumn Clematis is loaded with small white flowers where honey bees abound! California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum) is another flower that blooms at the end of summer. This native plant supplies nectar for hummingbirds as they start on their migration.

Looking around the Demo Garden, we see other flowers still blooming, tomatoes and peppers producing, and a few ripe apples remaining in the orchard. The harvest was good this year, with Asian pears so abundant that we donated multiple boxes to the Food Bank.

Why are those Master Gardeners huddled together in the Propagation area? They are “Monarch Wranglers,” searching for eggs and caterpillars on the milkweed plants that were grown for the Fall Plant Sale. Apparently monarch butterflies don’t mind that the young plants are still in pots! And, since few eggs and caterpillars survive hungry birds in the wild, our Monarch Wranglers nurture monarch babies to maturity, using special containers and a steady supply of fresh milkweed leaves. It is thrilling to finally release a beautiful butterfly and watch it on its way to start another generation. We encourage home gardeners to plant stands of milkweed somewhere on their property. If you don’t have the patience to wrangle monarchs, let nature take its course.  

Monarch caterpillar on milkweed

Western Nevada County Gardening Guide