By teaching you how to connect deeply with nature, The Dallas Garden School helps you unlock your full potential. Callie is the foremost gardening expert and educator in North Texas and a gardening columnist for D Magazine. Based in Dallas, Texas.
As you start to plant things for fall...
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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 vegetable gardens, I planted 8 pepper seedlings from Bobby's Best Starts. First, I amended the area with compost. After planting, I mulched heavily with Vital Earth brand shredded hardwood mulch**. I used two bags for 1/2 of a 4'x15' bed. I'll likely top off with one more bag in about a month. Next I hammered metal T-posts into each corner of the bed (thoroughly getting all my aggressions out) and draped shade cloth over. I use shade cloth that provides 40-50% sun blockage. Once I finished planting peppers, I deadheaded my rudbeckia and cut back the last of the delphiniums. Tomorrow, if I can muster the energy, I'll plant the tomatoes, also from Bobby. If you missed it this past Saturday, you can still take the Best Ever Fall Vegetable Garden Class. The replay is available now. I think it was the most-attended class in DGS history... You know how plant companies send me new cultivars to test every year? This year my garden socks are knocked right off. Lots of plants are getting my attention. Among the veggies, I can't get over Golden Griller F1 Squash from Ball Seed. It's still fruiting. Right now. In the 102 degree heat. And I even planted it late. It will be in nurseries next year. Tonight I'm going to make this Summer Squash Gratin from America's Test Kitchen. (If I ever have a dish "concept" in my head, I'll look for a recipe on either NYT Cooking or ATK.) Peace and plants, *Right now you can plant tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and okra by transplant. By seed, you can plant melons, pumpkins, winter squash, okra, black-eyed peas, and cowpeas. **If you want to know where Vital Earth mulch and compost is sold near you, please contact the company, 800-245-7645. I buy it at Ruibals and Nicholson-Hardie, but I don't keep track of where else it is sold. Also, you don't have to use this brand to have good results, it's just what I use, and I really like it. |
The Dallas Garden School
By teaching you how to connect deeply with nature, The Dallas Garden School helps you unlock your full potential. Callie is the foremost gardening expert and educator in North Texas and a gardening columnist for D Magazine. Based in Dallas, Texas.
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...
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...
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...