Here's what I did this morning in the garden: Deadheaded rudbeckia, snapdragons, and 'Mystic Spires' salvia Cut back 'Monarch Magic' ageratum, aster, and salvia nemorosa by 50% Staked 'Hopi Red Dye' amaranth Harvested 'Midnight Moon' eggplant, 'Marketmore' cucumber, 'Golden Griller' squash*, 'Sweet Canyon Orange' bell pepper*, and 'Baby Bubba' okra*. If you haven't done so already, this is your final reminder to cut back any perennials or annuals that have become overgrown or unruly. This is...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Here's what to plant now in your garden. Vegetables by direct seed: Cucumbers, okra, melons, pumpkins, winter squash, summer squash. Vegetables by transplant: Tomatoes (last day!), eggplant, peppers, okra. Annuals by transplant: Pentas, vinca, begonias, impatiens, zinnias, sunflowers. Indoors: Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, amaranth, cosmos, zinnias, sunflowers, marigolds. General maintenance: Deadhead all annual and perennial flowers regularly to maintain bloom. Shear back...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
As you start to plant things for fall*, here are some things to keep in mind... Your soil is likely fairly tired after the spring season. We had lots of rain and early heat. Give your soil a refresh with some good compost after you pull out your spring crops and before you plant your fall stuff. I usually mix about one bag (2 cu. ft.) into the top 6-8 inches of soil for every 9 square feet of garden space for a mid-crop boost. This morning, after hand watering the front display garden and...
2 months ago • 1 min read
The best kept secret among North Texas vegetable gardeners is the fall growing season. Warm days, cool nights, and returning rains are ideal for vegetable production. In addition to taking Saturday's fall vegetable garden class, here are three ways to prepare: Pull out all spent spring vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans) and amend the area with high-quality compost.These vegetables are done producing for the season because high summer heat inhibits pollination. To prevent future...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Good morning! I hope that you are finding creative ways to stay cool this week. The first week of triple-digit heat always makes me feel icky and off. I'm staying busy indoors with baking bread for tomato sandwiches and finding creative uses for the figs that are now starting to ripen on my tree. Here are 5 suggestions for what you can do this weekend in the garden: Begin sowing sunflowers and zinnias in succession. Through mid-August, you can plant zinnia and sunflowers seeds in succession...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Did you know that twice a month I hold "Office Hours"? This is a time that I make myself available on Zoom for 1-on-1 help. You can ask me anything! Why Office Hours is so special: I teach a mini class at the beginning of every Office Hours session. Yep! I start every Office Hours with a 30 minute mini-class! Recent topics included "Creating Your Summer Garden Plan", "Pest Issues", "Bed Preparation", and "Fruit Trees". The sessions are recorded so you can join live or watch the replay.Even if...
3 months ago • 1 min read
How's it going? I hope that you are getting to enjoy some of the fruits of your early summer garden right now. I'm finally getting to enjoy some tomatoes. (Emphasis on SOME.) Here is an early season tomato report focused on how well different varieties handled the extreme rains: Strong Disease Resistance: Cherokee Chocolate, Paul Robeson, Sunpeach, Chocolate Stripes, Black Krim, Kakao, Green Zebra, Carbon, Black Cherry Moderate Disease Resistance: Delicious, Homestead 24, Estiva, San Marzano...
3 months ago • 2 min read
This sunshine is nice, right? Such welcome relief from the constant deluge. This morning I dedicated a good chunk of time to fertilizing everything. Things actually look pretty good, all things considered. I added a fresh layer of mulch just before the rains came, and that really kept things happy and healthy. The delphiniums and snapdragons are still blooming well, but the foxgloves and poppies are toast and have been pulled to make room for the 'Indian Summer' rudbeckia, 'Mystic Spires'...
3 months ago • 2 min read
I hope this e-mail finds you safe and sound during this challenging time for our area. Many people are still without electricity. Others are dealing with destruction to their homes and landscapes. To top it all off, the rain just won't stop. Here's how this excessive rainfall might be affecting your garden: Soil erosion.Heavy rainfall and flooding can wash away topsoil, exposing root systems and reducing plant stability. Root damage and plant stress. Saturated soil can deprive plant roots of...
4 months ago • 3 min read
