CE Farms

Tate Edwards and Donna Carbonaro
700 Murphy Road
Paicines, CA
831-628-3685
Te-cefarm@sbcglobal.net

Markets: Aptos, Del Monte, and Monterey

Products: 15 to 20 species of “patio color plants” in hanging baskets and containers, such as fuchsias, verbenas, lobelias, and geraniums. These species are available in up to 20 varieties. And 25 different species of blooming landscape plants including salvia, daisies, and buddlia; species are available in about five varieties.

History/Philosophy: Tate and Dona grow their conventional nursery stock in Paicines, which is located about 10 minutes south of Hollister. Tate is a third generation nursery grower, and he has been a member of the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets for about 20 years.

Tate grew up helping his grandfather at his nursery in East Palo Alto in the 1960s. After Tate’s grandfather retired, and Tate graduated from college in 1982, he returned to work with his father at the nursery which was then located in Watsonville. Then in 1999, Tate and Donna moved to Paicines and started CE Farm. Running the nursery is a full time job for the couple, and Tate is not only the grower, but the vendor at the Aptos, Monterey and Del Monte markets. In addition to selling at the farmers markets, CE Farms sells to one large grocery store in the Hollister area.

The goal of CE Farms is to offer the highest quality plants possible so that they will thrive when customers take them home. Unlike many large nurseries, CE plants receive tender loving care during every stage of growth. Tate and Donna don’t cut any corners. For example, after growing in the green house, the plants spend a few extra weeks in a shade house so that they can get acclimated to the outdoor environment. And all CE plants are continually pinched and shaped by hand so they will be ready for prime time when customers buy them at the market to add color and beauty to their homes.

The most common question Tate and Donna hear is how to care for container plants. Their answer is to water thoroughly and only when the soil is dry, drain fully so that the roots never sit in water (otherwise the plant will get root rot), and fertilize every third watering.

When people want to know which plants are the easiest to care for, Tate might suggest lavender, buddlia, guara, and geraniums. Donna shared a little known fact about the popular geranium — it does very well in Aptos and Monterey because the microclimates there are similar to its place of origin — South Africa!

Farmland: The nursery is about 1 acre. They also have 10 acres of hay for four draft horses who don’t work on the farm; they are more of a hobby.

Soil: Tate and Donna combine the various components to make their own soil for container use.

Water Use: Drip system.