UC Master Gardeners San Joaquin County

09/10/2026

What species won the California Native Bee Society's statewide public contest for California's official State Bee, to be considered by the State Legislature?

Drum roll...the California Fairy Bee (Perdita californica), a member of the family Andrenidae.
https://ucanr.edu/blog/bug-squad/article/what-species-won-calnbs-state-bee-contest?fbclid=IwY2xjawUP_0pwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR74_gP4P-WL-zp9xtKzVBYcS9Fm-iI26TlBb6l32SrMnJXo81YvGv8WpcP4Fg_aem_Bvwq8rtsGtP-q1mlbqIp8w

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09/08/2026

Sorry for any confusion. The class on September 12 will be on Zoom, not at the library. Advance registration is still required. Please register here: https://link.ucanr.edu/sjmgcoolseason

Cool-season vegetable time is here! Join the San Joaquin UC Master Gardeners and learn what to plant, when to plant it, and which varieties grow best in our area.

Whether you’re starting your first vegetable garden or looking for a better harvest this season, come get your garden ready for fall!
September 12, 2026
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Class is free

Picture shows class details listed above and 3 photos of cool season vegetables: mixed lettuce, carrots and broccoli.

08/28/2026

05/29/2026

🚨 INVASIVE PEST ALERT 🚨
The San Joaquin County Agricultural Commissioner is asking residents to check any grapevines purchased from Costco between April 21 and May 19.

An invasive insect called the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter has been found on grape plants sold at Costco locations throughout Northern California, including Stockton, Lodi, Manteca, and Tracy. This pest can spread Pierce's Disease, which can kill grapevines and damage other plants, posing a serious threat to California agriculture and home gardens.

🌱 If you purchased a grapevine from Costco during this time: • Keep it isolated from other plants • Do NOT plant it in the ground • Do NOT move, return, transport, compost, or throw it away • Contact the San Joaquin County Agricultural Commissioner's Office for an inspection

📞 (209) 953-6000 📧 [email protected]
Agricultural inspectors can examine the plant and safely dispose of it if necessary. The food supply is NOT affected, and Costco is cooperating with state and local agencies in this effort.

Please help protect our local vineyards, farms, and home gardens by sharing this information.

05/27/2026

If you've purchased Grape plants from Costco, please let the Ag Commissioners office know.

San Joaquin County is urging residents to report grape plants purchased at Costco stores in Stockton, Lodi, Manteca and Tracy after inspectors discovered an invasive pest. See link below ⬇️

📸 Provided by Regents of the University of California

05/27/2026

Come check this free event out!

05/13/2026

Protecting pollinators starts right in our own gardens. 🐝🦋

Today’s Master Gardener presentation by the Xerces Society was a great reminder of how important pollinators and beneficial insects are to our ecosystem and food supply.
One of the most powerful parts of the presentation was seeing the comparison of a grocery store WITH pollinators versus one WITHOUT them. The difference was shocking. Without pollinators, many fruits, vegetables, nuts, and flowers we enjoy every day would disappear from store shelves or become very limited.
We learned how planting pollinator-friendly plants, especially natives like common yarrow, woollypod milkweed, and California lilac, can provide food and habitat for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Native plants really are some of the best choices for supporting local pollinators.
We also discussed the importance of being careful with pesticides, especially on milkweed, which is critical for monarch butterflies.
Every flower planted with purpose can make a difference. 🌼

04/28/2026

Date: May 29, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Robert J. Cabral Agricultural Center, 2101 E Earhart Ave, Stockton, CA

This free event will highlight ways to reduce textile waste and encourage reuse, repair, and recycling. Attendees can connect with vendors, speakers, and textile industry experts, and gain practical knowledge to support more sustainable practices in their communities.

No pre-registration is required, and all are welcome to attend.

04/25/2026

UC Master Gardeners in training explored Integrated Pest Management (IPM) a sustainable, science based, ecosystem focused approach to managing pests. It emphasizes reducing risks to people and the environment through a combination of strategies designed for long term control.
So, what is a pest? It’s anything that annoys us or causes damage to plants, structures, or even people.
The training covered key concepts like identifying and monitoring pests, understanding the causes of damage, and distinguishing between living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) issues. It also highlighted beneficial predators and natural enemies organisms that help control pest populations. These include predators that kill and feed on prey, such as lady beetles, lacewings, reptiles, birds, and spiders.
Participants also learned about different types of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, molluscicides, antimicrobials, and rodenticides and the importance of always reading the label before use.

04/21/2026

We had a great time at the Stockton Earth Day event this last weekend. We will be at the Tracy Earth Day event this Saturday. Stop by and say hello if you are there!