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What to Plant Now: July 29 - August 5

7/28/2022

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When we pass the New Moon phase, approaching the First Quarter we will be in Waxing Crescent. During the waxing of the moon (the period extending from the day the moon is new to the day it reaches its fullest point), the moon pulls moisture upwards. Seeds do well during this time because moisture is available at the surface of the soil. Be sure to do weekly foliar sprays with liquid seaweed to provide plants with hormones and nutrients needed for heat stress and to prevent disease and pests. Also don’t forget to collect deadhead flowering plants.
SEED INDOORS
In central Texas you can start your brassica seeds indoors in late summer and set them in the garden in autumn for winter harvest. Many of these crops are 120 days to harvest. 
  • Broccoli
  • Brussel Sprouts 
  • Cabbage
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Collards
  • Kale
MORE TIPS
For more ideas on Ornamentals, Perennials, and Herbs, visit the Central Texas Gardener and The Natural Gardener lists online. Here is the Texas A&M brassica growing guide  the Extension Planting Chart and Varieties. 

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Teaching Garden Update: Sun & Fruits

7/23/2022

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​🍈 This week we enjoyed some of the fruits of our hard work. The melons are starting to ripe and you can tell that they are ready in the same way you can tell watermelons are ripe. Just look for the closest tendril on the vine to see if it is dry and brown. If it is green it needs more time.

🍅 We can't believe we are still seeing tomato fruits. The sungolds are hanging on and our weekly foliar sprays of seaweed and insecticidal soap seem to be helping. We plan to leave some of the indeterminate varieties but also take cuttings and start new plants. See the Tim's Tomato Tip video to learn how to do this.

💦 Be sure to leave water for birds and wildlife so they don't find the water in your juicy vegetables.

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What to Plant Now: July 14-20

7/14/2022

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We just passed the Full Buck Moon. Buck Moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time. The moon will continue to appear full, swept by Saturn and Jupiter. Yesterday Saturn appeared just above the Moon, and today, Jupiter is aligned with the Moon! 
We are now going into a waning period of the Moon—from the day after it is full to the day before it is new again. As the moonlight decreases night by night, plants are encouraged to grow roots, tubers, and bulbs. 
DIRECT SEED / TRANSPLANT
  • Ginger 
  • Sweet Potato Slips 
  • Turmeric

POT OUTDOORS
  • Multiplying onion bulbs sprout in 4 inch pots to plant in early fall 

ABOUT MULTIPLYING ONIONS
Tim Miller, longtime AOG member and owner of Millberg Farm in Kyle, Texas (first certified organic farm in Texas), shared this history of the bulbs he grows and sells to garden stores. Tim originally received 7 bulbs of Egyptian multiplying onions from Ken Litchfield who was a Sunshine Community Gardener back in 1986. Back then, only Japanese bunching onions were being grown in Austin according to longtime AOG member Carolyn Panak. She said they were around in the 60s. Egyptian multiplying onions have 3 other names but most likely came from Louisiana when thousands of acres were being grown before WW2 that is now all gone. 
MORE IDEAS
For more ideas on Ornamentals, Perennials, and Herbs, visit the Central Texas Gardener and The Natural Gardener lists online. Download the Texas A&M Extension Planting Chart and Varieties.


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Teaching Garden Update: Garden Friends

7/9/2022

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🕷 Seeing some helpers including a yellow garden spider. The main benefit of spiders is that they eat insects. Spiders can help control flies, mosquitoes, moths, beetles, wasps and other insects, keeping their populations down. This helps protect you from being bitten or stung while you're working in your garden, and it can help your plants by reducing the number of hungry insects in the area.

🦎 Catch a cute moment with a small anole in the melon patch. Male anoles have a pink colored throat fan (called a dewlap), which is used in both territorial and courtship displays. They eat insects like grasshoppers, moths, grubs, and beetles.

 ⻌ Walking sticks are herbivores. They have chewing mouthparts and eat the leaves from the tress, shrubs and other plants on which they hide. Walking sticks are generally not considered to be a pest, though large populations may defoliate plants to a noticeable degree.

🍅 Many of our Cherokee purple tomatoes were being eaten by wildlife because of the drought. Be sure to leave water for birds and wildlife so they don't find the water in your juicy vegetables.

🐟 We continue weekly foliar sprays of seaweed and insecticidal soap. We're starting to see more aphids and mealy bugs on some of the cucumbers that are fading out with the heat.
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What to Plant Now: July 8 - 12

7/7/2022

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We just passed the first quarter and the moon is now in waxing gibbous going into a full moon. Now is also a time to seed-in plants that fruit and seed like cantaloupe, pumpkins, squash, okra, and southern peas. If you already planted these things, remember that it’s a good idea to succession plant and grow twice as much as you will need in case of disease and pest. As always, it’s best to transplant and seed-in with coming rains. 

DIRECT SEED OR TRANSPLANT
Melons
Okra
Peas (Southern)
Pumpkin
Squash (Summer/Winter)

TRANSPLANT
Eggplant
Peppers

What are your favorite varieties to grow? Visit our website blog to get links to growing guides and varieties that do well in Central Texas.


For more ideas on Ornamentals, Perennials, and Herbs, visit the Central Texas Gardener and The Natural Gardener lists online. Download the Texas A&M Extension Planting Chart and Varieties.

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Teaching Garden Update: Grow with Us

7/2/2022

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Here is what we were seeing this week in the teaching gardens Zilker Botanical Garden:

💦 Watering is the most important task these gardens and we are so grateful for the recent rains. The gardens have irrigation and we also get extra moisture from the Ollas. 

🍉 The melons are starting to take off. We are most excited about the Kajari melon and we hope we get to it before the wildlife.

🦗 Tomatoes are still ripening and this week we didn't see any stink bugs! We are using insecticidal soap and seaweed foliar spray. The seaweed is like a stress wrap and gives the plant nutrients it needs for growth.

We have lots of exciting things coming including in-person classes at the teaching gardens once a month on Saturday mornings. Planning and seed starting begins in August! We will be out there every Saturday until then tending through the summer. Join us!
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