Aspiring vegetable garden superheroes, behold! I am about to introduce you to the holy grail of starter plant glory. The Cal Poly Pomona Farm Store & Nursery, located in Pomona, CA, (a mere 25 minutes from North Orange County and a hop from the IE) is an adorable red farm-like building that sits amongst acres of agricultural growth at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Unbeknownst to many, Cal Poly Pomona is the home of the Huntley College of Agriculture and includes a specialty focus in Plant Science. A mere peek at this location will put any home gardener in awe. It is a cute, classy grocery store with an expansive outdoor area lined with 150+ varieties of tomatoes, peppers, various types of squash, beans, eggplant, kale, strawberries, and fruit trees are available.
Each season, the nursery chooses specific weekends to debut their pepper and tomato collections. This year was late March for tomatoes and late April for peppers. These starters are so well tended to (better than anything you’ll find at a retail store garden center) that if you’re able to find something you like and want (it’s hard not to), go for it. The nursery is restocked regularly but keep in mind that vegetables are seasonal so once the lot of plants of a certain variety are out, you’ll have to wait until the following season. The Farm Store is open every day from 10 AM – 6 PM. Weekdays are slower than weekends but still tolerable even when busy. If there is such a thing as the Target of plant nurseries, you’ve now been introduced to it.
This store benefits the students of Cal Poly Pomona and includes everything from fresh honey to produce farmed on-site; freshly squeezed orange juice to jarred jams and sauces. The experience is worth the trip!
The CPP Farm Store & Nursery is located at 4102 S. University Dr. Pomona, CA 91768. Curbside plant pick-up is available on most days (see website for details). Hours: Monday -Sunday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. https://calpolypomonanursery.com
