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Table of Contents iii
Table of contents
Contents ......................................................................................................................................................... 1
Table of contents ............................................................................................................................ iii
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 5
CHAPTER 1: Texas Grass and Lawn Care ................................................................................ 7
Planting and Care ........................................................................................................................ 9
Irrigate Efficiently ....................................................................................................................... 9
Avoid Overwatering .................................................................................................................. 10
Practice Grasscycling ............................................................................................................... 10
Protect the Environment ........................................................................................................... 11
Sketch a Landscape ................................................................................................................... 11
Put in the Effort ......................................................................................................................... 11
Common Texas Grasses ............................................................................................................ 13
Buffalo:. ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Carpet Grass ............................................................................................................................. 14
Centipede Grass ........................................................................................................................ 15
Zoysia Grass ............................................................................................................................. 15
St. Augustine ............................................................................................................................. 16
CHAPTER 2: Texas Flowers and Shrubs ................................................................................. 17
Planting and Care ...................................................................................................................... 19
Site Preparation ........................................................................................................................ 19
Planting ..................................................................................................................................... 20
Watering and Fertilization ........................................................................................................ 21
Flowers ...................................................................................................................................... 21
Lantana ..................................................................................................................................... 22
Alyssum ..................................................................................................................................... 22
Nierembergia ............................................................................................................................ 23
Ruellia ....................................................................................................................................... 23
Salvia......................................................................................................................................... 24
Roses: ........................................................................................................................................ 25
iv
Dianthus .................................................................................................................................... 25
Columbine ................................................................................................................................. 26
Shrubs ....................................................................................................................................... 27
Hollies ....................................................................................................................................... 27
Artemisia ................................................................................................................................... 28
Aralia ........................................................................................................................................ 29
Texas Sage ................................................................................................................................ 29
Chinese Photinia ...................................................................................................................... 30
Nandina ..................................................................................................................................... 30
Abelia ....................................................................................................................................... 31
Althaea ..................................................................................................................................... 31
Crepe Mrytl ............................................................................................................................... 32
Chapter 3: Texas Fruits and Vegetables ................................................................................... 33
General Planting and Care ........................................................................................................ 35
Soil Care: .................................................................................................................................. 35
To Improve Soil: ....................................................................................................................... 35
To plant: .................................................................................................................................... 35
Spring Vegetables and Fruits .................................................................................................... 38
Summer Vegetables and Fruits ................................................................................................. 41
Fall Fruits and Vegetables ........................................................................................................ 44
Winter Fruits and Vegetables.................................................................................................... 47
Index .............................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Introduction
Introduction
The Texas Gardening manual is intended to help homeowners across Texas achieve and maintain beautiful healthy lawns, and gardens. Texas gardening manual caters to generally all regions in Texas and provides several tips, as well as easy step-by-step instructions that anyone can follow.
Climate zones are your guide as a gardener to knowing when it's safe to begin planting certain plants based on frost-free dates for the area of the country where you live.
There is a frost-free date in the spring that indicates when it is safe to start planting vegetables or plants that don't like the frost. In the fall, there is also a first-frost date that tells you when it will be too cold for many things to grow well. The number of days in between these two dates is called the growing season.
In the U.S. there are 11 plant climates or growing zones. There is no rule that says a plant will only grow and flourish in its climate zone it may even be worth an experiment to grow plants outside of their zones, especially with the climate changing. However, the plant hardiness zones are considered to be fairly reliable guidelines.
Plant Climate: Zone Seven
Zone seven, often referred to the, “middle ground of gardening,” It weaves its way through Alaska’s inland passage, Washington, Oregon, California, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Delaware, New Jersey, Long Island, and Cape Cod. This Manual will only focus on Zone seven in Texas, and how to grow plants in all regions of Texas.
Chapter 1 7
CHAPTER 1
Chapter 1 9
Planting and Care
Texas weather can be very unpredictable at times with its harsh summers and cold winters, as well as its rainy seasons and sunny days. Therefore, maintaining a well-kept lawn in Texas takes some work. The following tips will not only help your lawn look better, it will also save you money as well as protecting the environment.
Irrigate Efficiently
Make sure that you avoid watering sidewalks and driveways with the sprinkler. The runoff water may have pesticides or fertilizers that could pollute other bodies of water. A properly adjusted sprinkler head sprays large water drops rather than a mist. The large water drops do not evaporate as easily as a mist would, which means that water is not wasted.
10 Texas Gardening
Water your lawn in the morning rather than in the afternoon. The afternoon heat can evaporate the water much more quickly.
Avoid Overwatering
Watering your lawn too much results in a weaker lawn and can lead to erosion and pollution runoff. The best thing to do is to observe your grass. Watch for signs of wilting or the grass becoming a brownish color.
A good general rule is to water your lawn one inch, once a week. Place a 1 inch deep can on your lawn and once it’s filled, you may stop watering so that you do not overwater your lawn.
Practice Grasscycling
Grasscycling is the act of leaving the grass clippings in the yard to decompose and make your turf greener and tougher. The grass clippings also act as a fertilizer. Mowing your grass too short causes stress which allow for less root growth underneath.
Chapter 1 11
Instead of wasting the grass clippings and just throwing them away, you might consider using the grass clippings as mulch for your yard. Using mulch and compost in the yard can reduce the need of watering by a significant margin.
Protect the Environment
Do your part in protecting the environment by using cleaner-operating gas equipment as well as manual tools such as shears and push-reel mowers.
Sketch a Landscape
To create a great landscape, it is best to start off by creating a sketch of lawn and what you would like the finished landscape to look like. This way you know what you are getting in to without rushing into it blind. This will also help you plan a budget to give you an estimate of how much it will all cost
Put in the Effort
12 Texas Gardening
Maintaining a nice lawn is not an easy task, and it requires a good amount of time, effort, and patience on your part. It takes time to grow and develop a great landscape, so don’t be disheartened if it’s not everything you dreamed it would be right away. Give it the proper amount of time and attention, and your Texas lawn will look fantastic!
Chapter 1 13
Common Texas Grasses
Bahia Grass: A good warm season grass that is resistant to drought and insects. It is best in humid regions because it requires little watering and attention.
Bermuda: Turf used at parks, sports fields, and golf courses. It is common to the tropical/subtropical areas and can tolerate drought, but needs water weekly to remain green and vibrant.
14 Texas Gardening
Buffalo: Grass native to the Great Plains. It has a high tolerance to drought and extreme temperatures. Buffalo grass is commonly found along roadsides, school grounds, and open lawn areas in west, central, and north Texas. Be careful to not fertilize this grass because the fertilizer will harm the grass.
Carpet Grass: Carpet grass is generally found in east Texas. It grows well in sun or shade, but it is ideal for shadier areas with moist soils. You must frequently mow carpet grass for it to stay healthy.
Chapter 1 15
Centipede Grass: Found along the gulf coast of Texas. Centipede grass is ideal for a homeowner who wants a
fairly attractive lawn that needs little care and attention. The downside to this grass is that is harmed by intermittent cold and warms periods during the spring in Texas.
Zoysia Grass: Zoysia grass is generally grown in warm central and southern climates in the United States. Zoysia grass is less dense than most grasses, which makes it easier to mow. Zoysia grass has good cold tolerance and stays greener later into the fall than most grasses, which makes it a good choice.
16 Texas Gardening
St. Augustine: St. Augustine grass is the most popular choice of grass in the southern United States. St. Augustine grass performs well in coastal regions, thrives in heat, but does poor in cold areas, which is why it is popular in the south. If you live in a coastal area with a good amount of rainfall, watering is not needed much if at all. If you live further inland, it is recommended that you water every so often depending on the amount of rain your area receives.
Chapter 2 17
CHAPTER 2
Chapter 2 19
Planting and Care
The secret to successful flower and shrub gardening in Texas lies in knowing what flowers to grow and where to plant them.
Once you have answered these questions, you will be able to have beautiful flower gardens here. Thanks to our mild climate, we can have flowers in bloom all year long.
Site Preparation
Ensure that the plants and the planting area are moist. Never plant a dry plant or place a plant into dry soil. When soil appears to be clay or sand, work in one-third organic material (compost, mulch or peat moss) with two-thirds of the existing soil. Mix in either a transplant fertilizer or a slow release fertilizer. If the plant location is a very wet area, make sure that you supply adequate drainage.
20 Texas Gardening
Planting
Dig a hole the depth of the root ball and two times the width.
Balled and Burlapped Plants
Place the rootball in the hole, remove all strings and wires from around the burlap, take care in keeping the burlap around the rootball until it is placed correctly.
Remove the sides of the burlap tucking the excess around the bottom of the rootball.
Fill in around the roots with amended soil.
Container Plants
Remove the plant from the container and set the plant on its side.
Loosen any roots that are in a tight circle by working your fingers into the soil. Take care in setting the plant in place without breaking up the rootball.
Fill in around the roots with amended soil. If the plant has recently been containerized you may find that the roots have not been established yet. This is no cause for alarm.
Chapter 2 21
Pack the loose soil around the tree. Never plant a tree any deeper than the top of the soil level of its original container.
Watering and Fertilization
Water well with slow soaking to wet the soil thoroughly. Since water does not move quickly between different soil textures, apply water directly to the rootball as well as the surrounding area. Newly planted shrubs should be deeply watered on a regular basis during the first two seasons.
If you are planting well established large shrubs in the warm summer months make sure that you continue to water thoroughly around the base of the plant to ensure that the original rootball stays moist until the new roots have established themselves into the surrounding soil.
After the first seasons growth, apply fertilizer to your plants according to the recommended rate on the fertilizer label.
Below is a list of flowers for Texas, along with the cultural requirements and the planting times.
22 Texas Gardening
Lantana: This hardy and drought tolerant flower comes in several lovely colors. It grows rapidly, reaching several feet in the first season. Plant in the spring, once danger of frost is past. Make sure the plant has full sun
and good drainage. Since this plant will live for many years, be sure to prepare the soil well prior to planting. You do not have to fertilize this plant at all to have success, but once or twice a year with an organic general purpose fertilizer will be appreciated. Water only when it gets dry.
Alyssum: Alyssum (the white flowers in this photo) is a great flower for Texas. It comes in several pastel colors and is supposed to be an annual. However, once it is established, it will reseed and come back year after year.
Alyssum smells great too. Water it when it wilts; this is not a particularly drought tolerant plant. Plant it in full
Chapter 2 23
sun or let it have a little afternoon shade. Alyssum can take some cooler weather also. Replant it in the fall and you may have it all winter. It is at its best in the springtime.
Nierembergia: This lesser-known plant is a good companion to allysum. It grows best in cooler weather, so plant it in the fall and again in the spring. It is a perennial and will return again each year.
Ruellia: Ruellia is a wonderful plant that not too many people know about. Ruellia is sometimes called Mexican Petunia. It is a very tough and drought tolerant perennial. It has spikey leaves and
bluish lavender or pink flowers, depending on the
24 Texas Gardening
variety. You can use ruellia as a border around our flower beds. It is a very invasive plant, popping up all over the place, but that just makes it good for filling out empty spots, as it transplants easily.
Ruellia should be planted in the fall or spring, and will bloom in mid to late summer and on into fall. There is also a tall variety, growing to about two feet. Ruellia must have adequate moisture in order not to wilt. Water it often in the hottest part of the year for best results.
Salvia: Salvias are a large group of flowering plants. Books have been written about this amazing flower. There are many colors, sizes, and varieties. The best salvias for Texas are the Gregii species. They are about four feet tall
and wide when mature and bloom much of the year. They are drought tolerant and problem free. No Texas garden should be without them!
Chapter 2 25
Roses: No garden would be complete without some rose bushes. However, roses thrive easily. They are attacked by insects and disease frequently and will wither if not watered or when petals are wet . The best roses for Texas
are the Old Fashioned roses rather than the tea roses. These varieties just seem to hold up better under our unfavorable conditions. Prepare rose beds with plenty of compost and organic fertilizer. When watering roses, do not get the leaves wet. Spray them regularly with Garrett Juice (available at organic nurseries), and with organic fungicides. Consult your organic nursery for their recommendations.
Dianthus: These do well in the cooler months of the year. Sometimes they will come back with mild winters. Plant in full sun in the fall or in early spring.
26 Texas Gardening
Columbine: This is a shade-loving plant that will spread freely year after year. It also has interesting-looking leaves. The native has yellow flowers.
Chapter 2 27
Shrubs
Hollies: There are many good varieties of hollies for Texas. Some are small trees, large shrubs, and small shrubs. You will need to decide what purpose for which you wish to use your holly, in order to pick the right variety. Some species loss its leaves in the winter, leaving its branches filled with pretty red berries all winter. Some keep their leaves all year round. They come in various leaf shapes and sizes. Most hollies are fine in full sun or even a full shade. They are very drought tolerant.
28 Texas Gardening
Artemisia: This is an herb, but it grows so large it needs
to be classified as a shrub. Since it grows large in just one season, it is a great plant to use for quick shrubs wherever you need one. Just break off a foot or so stem and plant part of it in the dirt where you want a new one to grow. Keep it moist for a week or two, and it will grow new roots. Before the end of the summer, you will have another large shrub and can repeat the process. Nothing bothers this plant, not even bugs or disease. Plant ing full sun to part shade and water occasionally.
Chapter 2 29
Aralia: This tropical looking shrub is really hardy here in Texas. It needs plenty of shade and moderate watering.
Texas Sage: This wonderful large shrub is covered by lavender flowers from mid-summer until late fall. It is a very drought tolerant shrub for hot, dry, well-drained soil with plenty of sun. Great for Texas climate.
30 Texas Gardening
Chinese Photinia: This large shrub can be trimmed up into a small decorative tree. These often grow wild in Texas; that shows how tough they are. They will bloom in the spring with large white blooms,
followed by berries which Cedar Waxwings love to eat. The berries are also a pretty winter accent to the garden. Plants anywhere and thrives on neglect.
Nandina: Nandinas also grow wild in Texas. They are beautiful shrubs with red berries and pretty leaves. They come in several sizes; the larger ones are the best in appearance. It would be hard to kill this plant. Nandina thrives on shady areas, but it can grow anywhere with very little care or water.
Chapter 2 31
Abelia: This is a graceful large shrub with arching branches and small white blooms throughout the year (whenever the shrub feels
like it). It gets quite large and should not be trimmed into a hedge; that would ruin its form. Just trim to keep it from getting too large. Full sun, moderate water.
Althaea: This is a large shrub or small tree that takes full sun or part shade and has large tropical bloomss that look like hybiscus blooms. A truly beautiful shrub.
32 Texas Gardening
Crepe Mrytle: This fantastic large shrub or small tree does need some care though.
Don't cut the tops off this shrub; that just mutilates it. Trim lightly in the early winter and then leave it alone. When you water, try very hard not to get water on its leaves. Use a soaker hose and water at ground level. This, along with full sun and adequate air flow will ensure that your shrubs don't get powdery mildew. This shrub is worth the extra trouble as it is covered with blooms for much of the summer.
Chapter 3 33
Chapter 3
Texas Fruits and Vegetables
Chapter 3 35
General Planting and Care
Soil Care:
Many gardens are not sufficiently deep to grow vegetables and fruits. If your garden is not very deep, you need to adjust your soil to provide good drainage and aeration.
To Improve Soil:
-Add 1 to 2 inches of good sand
-Add 2 to 3 inches of organic matter (composted material, peanut hulls, rice hulls, grass clippings, etc). Do this periodically to improve soil.
-Turn it and mix it with the soil
To plant:
-Apply fertilizer a few days before planting by hand or with a fertilizer distribution
-Mix fertilizer with soil
36 Texas Gardening
-Bed the garden in preparation for planting
-Dig holes depending on fruit or vegetable size (usual hole size: large enough to spread roots for a comfortable fit)
-Place seed or transplant on hole. Transplants are preferred because it allows crops to mature earlier and it extends the productive period of the crop.
-Cover the seed 2 to 3 times as deep as its width. Really small seeds, however, should be placed ¼ to ½ inch deep.
-Plant fruits and vegetables early on the intended season so that they will grow and mature faster
-Do not plant too deep or too shallow. Planting too deep causes roots to abort and planting too shallow causes roots to dry. Some plants grow best if kept in containers, while other can be planted.
-When planting use a starter solution. You can make it by mixing 2 to 3 cups of fertilizer in 5 gallons of water. Pour 1 to 2 pints in hole before planting to prevent plants from drying and it gives growing plants the nutrients needed.
Chapter 3 37
-Water a plant depending on the plants’ specifications. But be careful not to overwater plants.
-Water in the morning and at night. Light soils must be watered more often than heavier, dark soils.
-Keep garden free of insects, weeds, and diseases.
-After planting, avoid frequent walking in wet soil.
Note: Never work the soil when wet. To determine if soil is dry enough, take a handful of soil. If it sticks together and forms a ball, then it is not dry enough. Seeds work better when the soil is adapted. The ideal soil is granular, not powdery fine.
38 Texas Gardening
Spring Vegetables and Fruits
In Texas, spring is one of the best, if not the best, season to plant and grow fruits and vegetables. Spring is when plants get the most sunlight and when planting conditions are at its best point. During this season follow general care rules.
Asparagus- depth of planting (1-1.5 or 6-8 in) distance between plants (18 in)
Beans (Lima and snap) - depth of planting (1-1.5 in) distance between plants (4-6 in)
Broccoli- depth of planting (1 in) distance between plants (14-24 in)
Chapter 3 39
Brussels sprouts (early spring) - depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (14-24 in) height of crop (2 ft.)
Cabbage- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (14-24 in) height of crop (1.5 ft.)
Carrots- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (2 in) height of crop (1 ft.)
Cauliflower (transplant preferred) - depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (14-24 in) height of crop (3 ft.)
Corn (sweet) - depth of planting (2 in) distance between plants (9-12 in) height of crop (6 ft.)
Onion- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (2-3 in) height of crop (1.5 ft.) can plant the plant or the seed.
40 Texas Gardening
Parsley- depth of planting (1/8 in) distance between plants (2-4 in) height of crop (.5 ft.)
Peas- depth of planting (2-3 in) distance between plants (avg. 3 in) height of crop (2-2.5 ft.)
Potato- depth of planting (4 in) distance between plants (10-15 in) height of crop (2 ft.)
Chapter 3 41
Summer Vegetables and Fruits
During summer, follow the general care rules, except when mentioned. But also be sure to protect crops from excessive heat by keeping them moist.
Beets- depth of planting (1 in) distance between plants (2 in) height of crop (1.5 ft.)
Cucumber-depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (8-12 in) height of crop (1 ft.)
Eggplant- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (18-24 in) height of crop (3 ft.)
42 Texas Gardening
Cantaloupe- depth of planting (1 in) distance between plants (24-36 in) height of crop (1 ft.)
Sweet potato- depth of planting (3-5 in) distance between plants (12-16 in) height of crop (1 ft.)
Squash- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (18-36 in) height of crop (3 ft.)
Tomato (transplant preferred) - depth of planting (.5 or 4-6 in) distance between plants (36-48 in) height of crop (3 ft.)
Blackberries- special care needed. 1. Plant blackberries from root. All roots must be the size of a pencil. 2. Dig a hole three inches deep. 3. Lay root horizontally in the hole, and cover it with dirt. Space roots three feet apart. 4. Apply small but frequent amounts of fertilizer around the base of the plants.
Fig- special care needed. Plant roots where plant would get the most sunlight throughout the day. Dig a hole (6x3 in). Water the plant regularly to keep the plant and soil moist.
Chapter 3 43
Plums- special care needed. Dig a large enough hole because they will develop a 15 in diameter. Plant them 20 ft apart to avoid colliding. Be- sure to fill air pockets that might get to the roots. Water plant regularly to keep moist.
Cherries- special care needed. Prepare soil for planting. This plant prefers sandy soils. Use your shovel to dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root system on the tree you are planting, and place the tree in the hole. Soak the roots in water prior to planting to avoid moisture shock. Place plant in hole. Lightly tamp down the soil around the root and water it after planting it. Sprinkle a light amount of fertilizer
on the base of the plant and water it into the soil.
44 Texas Gardening
Fall Fruits and Vegetables
Care for fruits and vegetables as you would for any other season by following the general care rules, unless told otherwise. No specific care needed caused by season.
Chiles- You can grow your own chili peppers by saving the seeds from peppers you have. Or, you can buy seeds, or, you can buy established plants. Plants are a time-saving option that works the best for me. Each chili pepper plant needs a foot and a half of space, or you can even place chiles in a large flower pot with dirt. This plant needs plenty of sunlight and plenty of water.
Grapes- distance between plants (1-2 ft.). Be sure to keep an adequate water supply. Find a site that gets full sun for at least eight hours every day, with complete drainage. Choose an elevated site to keep the plants out of frost areas or puddling. If you have a south-facing slope, plant the grapes there. Amend planting sites at 10 feet on the row and leave 10 feet between rows during your planning. Design your rows to run with the
prevailing wind, to encourage wind pollination during the bloom. Plant grapes in holes that are as deep as their root balls and twice as wide. Fill amended soil around their roots to eliminate air pockets, then water with 2 inches of water each. Water the grapes with 2 inches of water every week to maintain good soil moisture, and weed the plot weekly. Grapes cannot survive with competition from weeds or grasses.
Chapter 3 45
Pears-special care needed. Good moisture drainage is an important soil requirement. Sandy soils are best, but garden trees can be grown in clay or heavy loam soils in most parts of Texas. Plentiful sunlight is a key factor for maximum fruit production. Choose an area of the yard in full or nearly full sun. Morning sunshine is particularly important for early drying of dew; thereby, reducing the incidence of disease. Dig a planting hole large enough to spread the root system in a natural position. Work soil in and around the roots, firming to eliminate air pockets as the hole is filled. Do not leave a depression around the tree. Water the tree
thoroughly and check for air pockets. Cut off the newly planted tree at 24 to 30 inches and remove all side branches. This is necessary to compensate for roots lost when the tree was dug at the nursery.
Pomegranate- special care needed. Plant location: where it gets plenty of sunlight and near a water source to water regularly. Plant with the same depth as in the original container. Spread roots around in a circular shape. Water the plant 3 day a week for the first year, after that you can water once a week.
Turnip- (roots or greens) depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (2-3 in) height of crop (1.5 ft)
Lettuce- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (2-3 in) height of crop (1 ft)
Spinach- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (3-4 in) height of crop (1 ft)
46 Texas Gardening
Carrots- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (2 in) height of crop (1 ft)
Pumpkin- special care needed. Plant your seeds 4 ft apart from each other. The pumpkin seeds should be ½ to 1 inch deep in the soil and should be planted in groups of about 3-5. Pumpkins need lots of sunshine and a deep and well-drained soil. They should receive about 6 hours of sunlight per day.
Watermelon- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (36-72 in) height of crop (1 ft)
Apples- Dig holes large enough to receive the roots freely without cramping or bending from their natural position. Cut off all broken or mutilated parts of roots with pruning shears. Set the plants with the graft or bud union no more than 1 inch above the soil line. Work soil in and around the roots. When the hole is half filled, firm the soil with your feet. Finish filling the hole and again
pack the soil firmly. Do not leave a large depression around the tree. Also, do not place fertilizer in the planting hole or fertilize immediately after planting. After planting, apply sufficient water to thoroughly soak the soil in the area of the tree roots. This watering brings the soil into closer contact with all sides of the roots and eliminates air pockets around the roots.
Chapter 3 47
Winter Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are grown the same as during other seasons. Follow general care rules unless specific the plant requires specific care. However, during winter be sure to cover your crops with blankets or heat lamps.
Winter squash- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (24-48 in) height of crop (1 ft)
Garlic- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (2-4 in) height of crop (1 ft)
Oranges-special care needed. They need deep and well-drained soil. Dig a hole large enough for roots to spread. Under no circumstances should soil around the proposed planting site be removed. Set the tree in the hole, backfill about halfway, then water sufficiently to settle the backfill around the lower roots. Finish backfilling the hole and then cover the root ball with about
in inch of soil to seal the growing medium from direct contact with the air and thereby
48 Texas Gardening
prevent rapid drying of the root ball. The watering interval should be every few days for the first couple of weeks, then gradually increased to 7 to 10 days over the next couple of months. Cold protection measures for orange trees will be required sooner or later. Soil banks are very effective for young trees; the soil should be put up about Thanksgiving and left in place until early March. Exercise care when taking down the soil bank, as the bark underneath will be extremely tender.
Radish- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (1 in) height of crop (.5 ft)
Tangerine- Water the tangerine tree. Mature and established trees should be watered deeply every two weeks unless your soil is very sandy, in which case more frequent watering is desirable. Fertilize the tree. Fertilize plant every three months during the first year of life. Protect the tangerine tree from cold. Cover it with a blanket or similar material. If necessary, place a heat lamp or incandescent bulb under the cover to keep the tree warm.
Horseradish-Dig a hole or furrow four to six inches deep and put a handful of fertilizer or a shovelful of compost at the bottom. Cover this with two inches of soil. Lay the roots, slanted end pointed down, in the soil at a 45-degree angle rather than straight up and down. This way, the new roots that form along the entire length of each cutting can grow straight down themselves without becoming tangled up in one another. The top of the cutting should be about two inches below the soil surface. Keep the seedbed free of weeds.
Celery-The soil should always be moist. You may need to use drip irrigation or soaker hoses on a bed or row of celery to keep water conditions right. Rich topsoil is a must, as celery has shallow roots – just a few inches deep — that need a moist top layer with plenty of organic matter. Space celeries about eight inches apart to let them reach their full growth. Plan for them to be mature in 100 to 120 days from transplanting. Water at least every other day to keep celery from
becoming tough and stringy. Water every day if there is no rain.
Carrots- depth of planting (.5 in) distance between plants (2 in) height of crop (1 ft)
Chapter 3 49
Kale-Kale is a full-sun plant. It will do better in North Texas with partial sun since direct sun tends to scorch it. Having a timed watering system to keep it cool is a plus for this cool climate plant. Flowering kale can be bought as potted plants or seeds. Seedlings will appear within 10 to 14 days with full-sun and proper watering. Kale is best planted in non-traffic areas of a garden, as they can
easily be broken off of their stems.
Sweet peas-depth of planting (2-3 in) distance between plants (4-6 in) height of crop (2-2.5 ft.)
51
In all your gardening efforts, remember to follow all of the guidelines. Always bear in mind your climate zoning whenever you are beginning to plant. Remember to start off your gardening simple, and as you become more comfortable then you can add in more plants, vegetables or flowers.
Successful flower and vegetable gardens begins by doing the basics correctly. Three important basics are:
1. Cautiously select the appropriate plants to match the conditions of your site. Always try to follow, placing the right plant in the right place rule.
2. Plan out the garden before actually planting your garden areas and purchasing your gardening items. It's much easier to move plants on paper than once planted in the garden.
3. Take out the time to properly prepare your soil. A healthy, living soil will insure the long-term survival of all garden plants.
By following all of these guidelines you should be able to have a happy healthy garden. Ready, set, go! Happy Texas Gardening!
Index
Abelia ................................................... iv, 28
Althaea ................................................. iv, 28
Alyssum ................................................ iii, 19
Apples ....................................................... 42
Aralia ................................................... iv, 26
Artemisia .............................................. iv, 25
Asparagus ................................................. 34
Bahia ......................................................... 11
Beans ........................................................ 34
Beets ......................................................... 37
Bermuda .................................................... 11
Blackberries ............................................. 38
Broccoli .................................................... 34
Brussels sprouts ...................................... 35
Buffalo .................................................. iii, 12
Cabbage .................................................... 35
Cantaloupe ............................................... 38
Carpet Grass ........................................ iii, 12
Carrots .......................................... 35, 42, 44
Cauliflower ............................................... 35
Celery ........................................................ 44
Centipede ............................................. iii, 13
Cherries .................................................... 39
Chiles ........................................................ 40
Chinese Photinia .................................. iv, 27
Columbine ............................................ iv, 23
Corn (sweet) ............................................ 35
Crepe Mrytle ............................................. 29
Cucumber ................................................. 37
Dianthus ............................................... iv, 22
Eggplant ................................................... 37
Fig ............................................................. 38
Garlic......................................................... 43
Grapes ....................................................... 40
Hollies .................................................. iv, 24
Horseradish ............................................. 44
Kale ........................................................... 45
Lantana ................................................ iii, 19
Lettuce ...................................................... 41
Nandina ................................................ iv, 27
Nierembergia ....................................... iii, 20
Onion ........................................................ 35
Oranges .................................................... 43
Parsley ...................................................... 36
Pears ......................................................... 41
Peas ........................................................... 36
Plums ........................................................ 39
Pomegranate ............................................ 41
Potato ....................................................... 36
Pumpkin ................................................... 42
Radish ....................................................... 44
Roses .................................................... iii, 22
Ruellia ............................................ iii, 20, 21
Salvia.................................................... iii, 21
Spinach ..................................................... 41
Squash ...................................................... 38
St. Augustine ........................................ iii, 14
Sweet peas ............................................... 45
Sweet potato ............................................ 38
Tangerine ................................................. 44
Texas Sage ........................................... iv, 26
Tomato ..................................................... 38
Turnip ....................................................... 41
Watermelon ............................................. 42
Winter squash .......................................... 43
Zoysia ................................................... iii, 13
Index 53
