Fall Gardens
The string of triple digits continues across many areas of Texas, but this is the time to get going on your fall garden. You all have heard the Jerry Rice quote, “Doing today what others won’t do so that you can do tomorrow what others can’t”, which is so applicable to fall gardening, it is hot!, so who wants to garden when it is that blazing hot? However, if you are to enjoy warm season vegetables this fall, you have to plant now.
Challenges for fall gardens include: heat, insects like white flies and spider mites, and keeping your plants well-watered until they become established.
If possible, remove all old spent garden plants, re-work your planting areas and amend with compost, slow-release fertilizer, etc.
See the planting guide at the following site:
• Note,ifusing transplants, your planting dates can be somewhat delayed.
• Warmseededcrops that need 10 be planted ASAPS include sweet corn, winter squash, and southern peas.
• Coolseasoncrops including carrots, beets, parsley, cilantro, spinach can be planted about1 mid-October in many locations.
• Thegreatestchallenge is getting a stand with cool season crops when it is so hoi. A light compost layer over the seed bed can help. Remember our farmers in the Wintergarden have been planting cabbage since the beginning of July, so just remember and thank your local farmers for the work they do lo keep America fed.
Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status.
The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating