Planting
POWER Local plant nursery owner promotes home gardening
MARCH 25, 2022 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE
By JOHANNA MILLER
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pring is here, and with it comes warmer temperatures, more outdoor activities and a surge in home gardening. But with unpredictable weather patterns increasing, as well as the ongoing drought in California, there is plenty more to think about now when choosing what to plant this year. Jeff Rosendale, owner of Sierra Azul Nursery & Gardens in Watsonville, says that business has remained strong through the
winter months due to warm and drier than usual temperatures. “It felt like Spring in early February,” he said. “Then we got some colder weather, a cold snap in late February, so that kind of held things back a little bit for us. We scrambled when it got down into the 20s in certain places around here. Now we’re over that, and it’s officially spring. The little rain we had recently was nice, even though it was only a quarter of an inch.” Rosendale said that customers have already started showing
interest in planting their seasonal gardens. He predicts that many edibles—vegetable crops, citrus and other fruit trees—will start selling more through the spring and into summer. Sierra Azul specializes in propagating proteas, subtropical flowering plants that are ideal to grow in regions like the Monterey Bay area. In fact, coastal California is one of only five mediterranean climates in the world where such plants can be produced. “We’ve been seeing some
increased popularity in the proteas we grow here,” Rosendale said. “We had some really good early sales. That’s been good for us. We’re coming up on a stage now where we’re a bit low, but more should be coming on soon.” Plants that thrive in dry climates have become vital for nurseries in California. While “waterwise” plants have always been an important part of Sierra Azul’s selection, Rosendale said that California native plants have become increasingly popular with customers.
