-
Companion Planting for Vegetables
Make the most of your space and your efforts with this age-old technique of growing certain vegetables and herbs together for mutually beneficial purposes like soil condition, sun requirements, pest and weed control, climbing support, and more. Here are some classic vegetable companion groupings. Tomatoes/Eggplants/Peppers + Herbs + Borage Nightshades must be planted after the last threat of frost has passed. Edge the beds with herbs that like the same growing conditions, such as basil and parsley. Borage can also help keep away destructive tomato hornworms (and its periwinkle flowers taste like cucumber). Potatoes + Beans Plant seed potatoes in spring, after the soil thaws. Beans on poles or trellises…
-
February in the Garden
or how I learned to get ready for spring February is one of my favorite times in the garden. Spiderwort and some of the first blooms peek their colors above the old brown mulch and herald the promise of warmer weather. Also it is a great time to enjoy your victory garden bounty of greens, broccoli, carrots and other healthy vegetables. Kids often love to get involved in the garden if they know they can eat some things too! February Garden Tips Flowers to Plant Alyssum Calendula Centaurea Dusty Miller Larkspur Pansies Snapdragon Violas Seeds to Sow Beets Carrots Corn Greens – cool season Peas – English, snap, snow Potatoes…
-
January in the Garden
…or how I learned to hope for a milder winter! Happy 2022! If last year’s Snowmageddon in Austin was a “once in a lifetime” freeze event, let’s hope that we have a milder season this year. We are in a La Nina year, so the weather forecasters tell us that usually means we have a warmer than normal winter here in Central Texas. I certainly hope so! My garden is still recovering from the freeze damage last year so it would be wonderful to have a milder winter to allow the olive trees and figs to grow without being frozen back to the ground again. January Garden Tips Flowers to…
-
How to Build a Gardener’s Toolbox
Tips for finding quality tools that will last We may be a home gardener, not an arborist or full-time landscaper, but still want tools with the professional-quality performance that professionals demand. Like a chef impatient with a dull knife, we want them to cut cleanly into whatever medium we are working in, whether branch or soil. And we’d just as soon skip any implements with clunky grips or unnecessary weight. The tools that follow are the ones worth waiting for — and you may have to wait for some of them, if supply-chain snarls or shipping delays so conspire. But whether you’re shopping for gifts or your own personal use,…
-
December in the Garden
Or how I learned to garden on a temperature rollercoaster This darn December weather! Will you need a jacket and sweater tomorrow or shorts and a t-shirt? Who the heck knows? Certainly not the weather forecasters. Welcome to the Central Texas winter temperature rollercoaster. How our native plants survive this beats me. How does your garden fare with these wild temp swings from the 30s to the 70s? December Garden Tips Flowers to Plant Pansies Violas Centaurea Calendula Larkspur Alyssum Seeds to Sow or Transplant Cool season greens (Sow) Radishes (Sow) Asian greens (Sow or Transplant) Lettuce (Sow or Transplant) Spinach (Sow or Transplant) December Garden To-Dos Protect tender plants…
-
2021 Gift Guide for Plant Lovers
If you didn’t know a “Plant Person” before, chances are you do now. The coronavirus pandemic ushered in a botanical boom: A new crop of victory gardeners resulted in a run on seeds; sales of plant-based meat alternatives and other foods soared; as did sales of plants both legal and quasi legal. Eleven Madison Park, regarded as one of the world’s best restaurants, debuted an all-plant menu (that didn’t delight every diner) in June. And fashion houses from New York to Paris have made commitments to use more plant-based materials in their collections. The current craze began to take root even before the pandemic, though, with millennials, in part inspired…
-
Let’s Grow: Herbs
There are so many things to love about herbs. They’re easy to grow, even for beginner gardeners, and add beauty to your space. They don’t require much room in the garden, they smell great, and they offer a variety of health benefits and flavor when added to your meals. Fall is actually a great time to plant an herb garden. Hardier herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme can be started this time of year and will grow very well in areas with mild winters. Rosemary can even generally hang on for a couple of frosts. If you’re a beginner gardener, it’s always okay to start off small. You can grow…
-
‘Pandemic Gardeners’ Feed a Growing Trend
A few months ago, a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania couple ripped out their 600-square-foot backyard lawn to replace it with a vegetable garden, turning a hobby into a safeguard against possible food shortages brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The gridded plot of plants, some in raised beds and all protected by deer fencing, required a fairly hefty investment. They’re part of an expanding group of backyard farmers who are contributing to a recession-defying infusion of sales at nurseries, garden centers, and online retailers, not just in the eastern part of the Keystone State but nationwide. The trend points to a growing opportunity for entrepreneurs looking for a niche yielding a different kind of green. The rush of grow-your-own…
-
America’s Patriotic Victory Gardens
During both World Wars, America’s agricultural production became a powerful military tool During World War I, a severe food crisis emerged in Europe as agricultural workers were recruited into military service and farms were transformed into battlefields. As a result, the burden of feeding millions of starving people fell to the United States. In March of 1917¬—just weeks before the United States entered the war—Charles Lathrop Pack organized the National War Garden Commission to encourage Americans to contribute to the war effort by planting, fertilizing, harvesting and storing their own fruits and vegetables so that more food could be exported to our allies. Citizens were urged to utilize all idle…
-
The Buzz on Beautiful Bees in your Garden
Bees are important to local ecosystems, now more than ever. For our local Central Texas gardeners who are interested in learning more about these wonderful pollinators, join the Lake Travis Community Library for a fun virtual program with the author of “Beekeeper’s Lab: 52 Family-Friendly Activities and Experiments Exploring the Life of the Hive,” by Kim Lehman on Wednesday May 26 at 2pm. About Beekeeper’s Lab: Beekeeping’s popularity as a hobby continues to skyrocket. Beekeeper’s Lab gives you 52 bee-inspired labs to do all year long, and are accessible enough to share with the family. Fill the year ahead with weekly activities from around and about the hive, including art projects, recipes,…
