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Fall Leaves Are A Gardeners Best Friend
As I have researched, nature has its own recycling method that is so beneficial to gardens. Fall leaves are a great addition to composting. We have plenty of leaves on our property so I am going to put them to work. They turn such a gorgeous color but quickly turn brown and cover the ground. Autumn leaves are considered a “brown” element needed in composting. They are a source of carbon, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and minerals. These are really a free addition to soil which can be incorporated directly into the soil or put as a “brown” element to the compost pile. I plan to use the leaves both…
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Garden Planning
Just because your spring garden is coming to end does not mean the work stops. There are plenty things to add to your to-do list for August and September. Start planning now and start prepping your calendar for the tasks below. I love using this garden calendar for all my gardening to-dos. I stay organized so I don’t fall behind on any of my garden upkeep. Protect Squash Ripening fall pumpkins & winter squash need to be protected. Slip something beneath them to prevent rot at the bottom. I use a piece of cardboard. Gather Fruit Any fruit fallen from the trees needs to be gathered. Remove Self Sowing Seed…
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June In The Garden
This month in the garden should be a time of fast growth of garden plants. The cool weather crops should be done and the summer crops should be taking off. May is typically a rainy month and this year rain it was in Texas. The temperatures begin to heat up which allows for fast growth of plants, blooms appearing, and hopefully bees buzzing. . With heat comes the need to water whether it is from rain or your method of watering. Vegetable gardens need one inch of water each week. Soaker hoses do the best job as they water the base of the plants and keeps the foliage dry. This…
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Growing Herbs
When I first started out gardening I wanted to begin small with something I could manage. I was not very knowledgeable or informed yet on all the ins and outs of gardening, nor did I have the space for a large garden. So, I started with herbs. Herbs are an easy place to start. They just need a little sunshine, soil with good drainage and some room to grow. Herbs can turn ordinary meals into something special with a pinch of this and a bit of that and meals can be transformed. I have planted herbs for a few years and they bring an interest to gardens which otherwise would…
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Cleaning Your Garden Tools
Give your garden tools a seasonal scrub… By the time the gardening season is winding down, my garden tools have taken a beating. I utilize a quick and convenient storage place right in my garden to store my tools during the gardening season. I use them daily so I want them handy when I need them. I assembled a mailbox on T posts. I drive the end of the T post into the ground in my garden. T posts are stout, and can be directly driven into the ground and there is no need for digging holes and setting concrete. I keep my small hand tools, gloves, and some row…
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Growing and Harvesting Butternut Squash
Butternut Squash It is considered a winter squash. Given the chance winter squash will take over a garden (this includes pumpkins). The vines are very long and will grow to all parts of the garden. I usually direct the long vines to the perimeter of the garden so they encircle my garden space. Growing butternut squash was not on the top of my list during my early gardening years but once I decided to try growing it, it has been a regular in my garden. Growing Butternut Squash Butternut squash is easy to grow. The growing season begins in the summer for harvesting in the fall. The seedlings are extremely…
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All You Need To Know About Growing Cucumbers
I love growing cucumbers. The best memory I have is taking a big bite out of an extremely bitter cucumber. That was early in my gardening journey and I had planted a cucumber meant for pickling, not eating raw. Who would have thought there was a difference? I sure didn’t. So, when picking seeds to plant make sure you read the seed package carefully. Decide What To Grow Cucumbers have a refreshing taste mostly because they are high in water. They are divided into 2 categories: those used for pickling and those used for slicing. Pickling cucumbers tend to be bitter and are not good when eaten raw.…
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Pecan Trees
When I am in the garden and need a break in the shade my go to place is always under my pecan tree! Pecan trees are native to the United States and they thrive in the Southern locations. They are of the most desirable trees for home yards. They are large trees, and provide natural shade and the nutritious value make them a favorite. They do very well in Texas. My pecan tree was transplanted from a Pecan Farm 17 years ago and with this one tree we have plenty of nuts for our family plus plenty for holiday gift giving. We live on a little over a acre and…
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How Hot Are Your Peppers?
Peppers are a favorite in most gardens behind tomatoes and herbs. They are often grown in container gardens and they do well. Peppers are a warm season favorite however, they require higher temperatures, grow more slowly and are smaller in size compared to a tomato plant. They require full sun and they need to spaced 12-18 inches apart. Peppers are a thirsty plant and need plenty of water. The soil must drain well so the roots do not get saturated which can water logs the roots. A little history about the spiciness/heat of pepper began in the 1900’s. The Scoville scale of heat is a measurement of the spiciness/heat of…
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Peachy Pick-Me-Up
Peaches and apricots picked at their peak of ripeness are some of the most delicious fruits of summer. We have both peach and apricots trees and the trick to have a bountiful crop is to pick trees that fit your climate. Our apricot tree has had only a few years of a bumper crop. Apricots primarily mature in early summer making them on of the earliest available summer fruits. Our apricot trees seems to always bloom early with only a few days of warmth. We inevitably have a string of warm days in March which triggers blooming of our tree followed by a mild freeze which damages the delicate blooms.…
Home Grown is Best
