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Think you don’t have enough room to grow your own fruit? Think again! In this episode of In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners on 88.9 FM KUCI, Master Gardener Mark Oertel interviews John McNeill of the Orange County Chapter of the Rare Fruit Growers. John, who has lived around the world, has transformed his own yard from a tropical garden into an impressive collection of fruit trees growing in containers. His favorite container is the half-wine barrel—and he can grow two or even three fruit trees in a single barrel! John explains why growing fruit in containers can be an easy and practical option for gardeners with limited space. Container-grown trees can be moved, managed and maintained more easily, and there’s an added safety benefit: many fruit trees can be kept at a manageable height, reducing the need to climb a ladder to harvest your fruit. If you have a small yard, patio, balcony or just want to try growing something different, discover how you can enjoy fresh homegrown fruit—even when space is limited!

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Master Gardener host Mark Oertel talks with Leah Beattie of Laguna Hills Nursery about all the exciting vegetable garden varieties available for cool season gardens in this edition of “In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners”. Leah grew up in the nursery business and has many heartwarming stories. Learn about general garden favorites like onions, garlic, radishes, cole crops, strawberries, passion fruit just to name a few. October is the month to begin a cool season vegetable garden in places like coastal California and in the southern states - basically in USDA zones 9-11. In regions of the world with colder weather, cool season vegetables can be planted in the spring or summer. No doubt wherever you live, there are new, exciting cool season vegetable varieties on the market to enjoy. Get inspired!

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This week on “In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners”, we take you to a remarkable success story of pairing core elementary school learning and a school garden. Master Gardener Bill Brooks traveled to Laguna Beach’s Top of the World Elementary School and talked with fellow Master Gardener and teacher Kelly Osborne. Imagine that through a simple school garden, the varied concepts of Mathematics, History and Social Studies, and of course, Science are incorporated into this remarkable outdoor classroom. Learning outdoors is a key element of student excitement and engagement. The sense of pride when the students see their garden’s bounty featured in the school cafeteria is immeasurable. The surrounding community also benefits and contributes when they purchase the products and produce made and grown at the Top of the World School Garden’s Farmer’s Market.

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It is time for another installment of what to do in the garden this month for the month of September on “In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners”. Despite the likelihood of heat outside, work may be necessary to start CLEANING UP the garden. Out with the old! Prep for transition to Cool Season color and crops. Be aware of the Fire Season danger potential. Look for bulbs now for planting in October. Dethatch your lawn or consider PLANS for removing lawn in exchange for drought-tolerant plantings. That project will take more than just plant material! Irrigation is a giant part of the plan for lawn removal. Next month, we’ll say “IN WITH THE NEW” as October will be a better month to plant! UC Master Gardeners Teena and Katrina are at their best giving advice on monthly garden tasks.

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Don’t think you have space to garden? Think again! This week on In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners, you will learn lots of tips and tricks to grow veggies and ornamentals in small spaces. Master Gardeners Sally Richards and Ann Liu got together to chat about small-space gardening perfect for college students and anyone living in the densely populated townhome, condominium, or apartment complexes.

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Not to be confused with the chocolate treat, today on In The Garden with UC Master Gardeners, we are talking about Truffles - the mysterious yet delectable underground fungus. Truffles are mycorrhizal fungi which play an important role in the health of soil. The truffle/tree relationship is beneficial for both the environment and for the tree. Because they grow underground, their aroma and flavor are tantalizing to both humans and animals. Today we’ll learn about how truffles are being cultivated and then how to cook and enjoy them. UC Master Gardener Host Bill Brooks recently spent this episode with his expert guests located across the country - Dr. Tom Michaels, trained as a Plant Pathologist and expert on EVERYTHING Mushroom and Truffle-related. Dr. Michaels will entice the science buff listeners in what is known and NOT known about truffles. Also, joining the program is Susi Gott Séguret, author, chef, fiddler, forager, and Certified Culinary Professional to name a few aspects of her expertise. This episode is one of a kind!

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Now is your chance to understand the classic example of METAMORPHOSIS! Simply imagined, the word means changing structure, form, or substance. A word which applies to this process could be “supernatural”. We’ll look at the lifespan of the creatures we see during the life cycle that produces, arguably, the most beautiful garden inhabitants in Southern California gardens. Today, Master Gardener Bill Brooks talks to fellow Master Gardener, biologist, and ecologist Tracey Rice and they discuss the magical Monarch Butterfly! You’ll learn what they eat and why? Why does a gardener want to plant what they eat? What else can people do to help sustain the fragile ecosystem of this vulnerable creature? We are calling this episode of In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners “Monarchs and Milkweed”. With that title, look forward to finding out the unbreakable connection between your favorite butterfly and the food it requires.

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What does gardening have to do with the University of California? Quite a lot! The latest episode of In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners explores the science, education and community service behind the UC Master Gardener Program. In “Rooted in Research: The UC Master Gardener Program,” host Bill Brooks talks with Randy Musser, Program Coordinator for the Master Gardeners of Orange County, about the many ways the University of California helps Californians make informed decisions about gardening, agriculture, natural resources and environmental stewardship. The program highlights the work of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), the University of California Cooperative Extension, and the UC Master Gardener Program. Listeners will learn how UC research is translated into practical, research-based information that can be used by gardeners, homeowners, schools and communities throughout California. Musser also discusses what Master Gardeners do, how the program serves the public through workshops and educational outreach, and what it takes to become a UC Master Gardener. Tune in to discover how a statewide network of university researchers, educators and volunteers is helping Californians grow healthier gardens and communities—while putting science to work right in the backyard. In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners airs Thursdays from 8:30–9:30 a.m. on KUCI 88.9 FM in Irvine.