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August 10, 2018
By Pauline Hendryx - Victoria County Master Gardener
Edited by Charla Borchers Leon
PHOTOs CONTRIBUTED BY PAUL MLADENKA
A good rule of thumb is to regularly inspect plants for pesky insects and disease, particularly this time of year. They can quickly infest and harm your plants and produce if you do not patrol for them. Notice the pesk -free cucumber bud, center, coming onto this healthy plant in this garden.
Red Christmas ornaments have been strategically placed on these tomato plants to help keep the birds away. A splash of fun like this added to your plants makes gardening more interesting while helping protect them and the fruits of your labor.
According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, the fall factor formula is a method to determine when to plant fall vegetables from the first average frost date. By definition, it is the number of days from seeding to transplanting to harvest.
Number of days from seeding or transplanting to harvest
14 + Fall factor (2 weeks)
21 + Frost-tender factor, if applicable (3 weeks)
= number of days to count back from first frost date
Source: Texas Master Gardener Handbook
WHEN: Noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13
WHERE: Dr. Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 North Navarro St.
PRICE: Free admission
Bring you lunch and drink.
“Composting: Building and Maintaining a Compost Pile”
Presented by Victoria County Master Gardener Jack Goodwin
The Gardeners’ Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at VictoriaAdvocate.com.
If you think it is hot now…just wait until tomorrow. August can bring extremely high temperatures in South Texas plus little or no rain which together can quickly put our gardens at risks. Even the most skilled gardeners must dig deep into their bag of tricks to keep their garden flourishing and producing this time of year.
To extend your summer gardening season and keep it looking good, there are some essential gardening tasks you can do now which also will prove beneficial to your fall garden.
We all know watering regularly is a must if we want our gardens to thrive and keep producing through late summer and into fall. Water evaporates quickly during our hot days especially during mid-day.
Early watering in the morning is best to give the moisture time to reach thirsty plant roots. Water composition in a variety of vegetables is above 90% and adequate fluid intact is a must for their survival.
Late summer vegetable gardens do well in a soil-cooling mulch such as shredded leaves or straw. Using compost is also suggested as a wonderful way to keep your plants cool while providing nutrients at the same time.
Texas A&M horticulture department recommends the using of compost or mulch to protect your plants from the heat, help keep moisture in the plant plus reduce weed populations. Mulching is perhaps the #1 water conserving technique for areas that receive less than 40 inches of rainfall annually per The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Regular pest patrol is a summer must as insects like aphids just seem to thrive in our intense heat and long growing season. They can quickly make themselves right at home in a garden eating the fruits of our labor and spreading diseases.
And let’s not overlook weeds which can harbor insects and disease also. Immediate removal of them is the surest way to keep them under control and cuts down on prep time for your fall garden as well.
Timely planting is the key to a successful fall garden. Warm days and crispy cool nights are perfect for growing vegetables.
Consider what you and your family like to eat and begin planning what you want to plant based on that.
Think about where to purchase your seeds or plants. Local nurseries will have both plants and seed packets available.
And then there are colorful seed catalogs to browse through. By the way, did you know there are more than 100 mail-order seed and plant companies to order from?
Planting from seeds: all vegetables can be started from seeds.
For fall gardens, think broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, leek, lettuce or spinach seeds. All may be planted indoors in small containers starting the first part of August in a well-lit location.
Plant the seeds in a good starter mix or make your own using 50% vermiculite or perlite, with 50% fine sphagnum peat and mix in a tablespoon of fertilizer. Be sure to read planting directions on the seed packages as some may require refrigeration before planting.
Vegetable seeds can be planted directly into your outdoor garden with no problem starting around the first of September. August can still be rather warm for seedlings.
Or you may want to use transplants which have several advantages such as they provide crops earlier and have a longer harvest. And with certain vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers, they might not produce at all if not grown from transplants.
Allow two weeks for a transplant to establish a good root system. Transplants are usually sold in multiple-plant packs or 4-inch pots.
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, one should plant by the moon. Above-ground bearing crops should be planted from the day the Moon is new to the day it is full. And below- ground bearing crops should be planted from the day after the Moon is full to the day before it is new again.
A myth or not? This practice has had success for many years with scientific support.
Continue to wear your sun hat as our South Texas days are still hot, watch for pests and keep your plants hydrated and your garden tidy. By all means, take a moment to sit and think of the tasty fall vegetables you soon will be enjoying.
Remember fall will come – it always does.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY PAUL MLADENKA
Extreme hot temperatures means adjusting water to meet plant demands during the late summer growing season. Remember that early morning watering is the best to give the moisture time to reach the thirsty plant roots because plants must have adequate fluid intake for survival this time of year. Shown here is a healthy vining plant with accurate light and water conditions.
ph: 361-935-1556
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