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What to Plant Now: Aug 17 - 24

8/17/2023

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Picture
We just passed the New Moon phase and are now approaching the First Quarter and are 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. 
Fall is a great time for planting veggies in Central Texas and now is the time to get things started if you are planting leafy greens from seed both outdoors and indoors. 

SEED OUTDOORS 
  • Arugula
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lettuce (Head, Loose Leaf, Romaine, Summer Crisp, ) 
  • Mustard 
  • Swiss Chard

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 need 120 days to harvest and this gives them a tolerable soil temperature indoors to get a head start. All of these crops can also thrive and do well in frost. 
  • Broccoli
  • Brussel Sprouts 
  • Cabbage
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Collards
  • Kale

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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What to Plant Now: Aug 2-8

8/2/2023

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We just passed the Sturgeon Moon, other names include the Fruit Moon, Grain Moon and the Green Corn 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. It’s always best to try to plant with the coming rains which sadly haven’t been in the forecast. If you decide to wait to plant for another month, we completely understand. We are already seeing our multiplying onions, garlic, and potatoes volunteering at the gardens that are irrigated at Zilker Botanical.

DIRECT SEED
Beets
Potatoes (Irish)

TRANSPLANT
Bunching or Multiplying Leeks, Onions, and Garlic

WHERE TO BUY
I will be bringing lots of bulbs of multiplying garlic at our Fall Plant Sale. The Natural Gardener and Cultivate Holistic Supply will have bunching online transplants in September. 

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.
BECOME A MEMBER
Become a member of the oldest organic gardening club in the U.S. at www.AustinOrganicGardeners.org. Memberships are only $25 a year and 100% of your dues support Zilker Botanical Garden.

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What to Plant Now: July 26 - July 31

7/26/2023

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Picture
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. It’s also time to start your tomatoes indoors. 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
  • Amaranth 
  • Corn
  • Cucumber
  • Melons
  • Okra
  • Peas (Southern)
  • Pumpkin
  • Squash (Summer/Winter)
  • Watermelon
SEED INDOORS
  • Tomatoes
TRANSPLANT
  • Eggplant
  • Peppers
  • Tomatoes
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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What to Plant Now: July 18 - 25

7/18/2023

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Picture
We just passed the New Moon phase and are now approaching the First Quarter and are in Waxing Crescent. It’s a good time to plant warm season leafy greens and cover crops to protect the soil. 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. As things continue to heat up these next couple months, 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.
Direct Seed or Transplant 
  • Amaranth 
  • Brazilian Spinach
  • Chaya Spinach
  • Egyptian Spinach (Molokhia)
  • Lamb’s Quarter 
  • Longevity Spinach
  • Malabar Spinach
  • New Zealand Spinach
  • Perpetual Spinach (Leaf Beet Chard)
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Leafy Greens Growing Guide.
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

7/8/2023

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Lot's of action in the garden this week! We spotted some green anoles doing their thing... the females can change colors ya'll! We are still planting vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. We planted snake gourd in the place of where the tomatoes are currently growing. We planted more varieties of basil Tulsi, Lettuce Leaf, Purple Petra, Greek Dwarf. We gave the plants another deep soak and did a foliar spray of seaweed to help with the heat stress. This week we harvested more Turkish pumpkin eggplants, okra red long beans, peppers, herbs, and more cherry tomatoes. Next week we plan to plant more corn that we will innoculate with a liquid spores of the fungus Huitlocoche. Learn more here about the experiment we are trying. 

Join us next Saturday from 9-11 as grow together this summer in the garden. All ages and abilities welcome! Sign up here.
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What to Plant Now: July 4 - 20

7/4/2023

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Picture
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 
  • Purple Yams / Ube
  • Sunchokes
  • Sweet Potato Slips 
  • Turmeric

POT: 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

7/1/2023

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This week we gave our veggies another deep soak of water to encourages the plants to produce deeper roots. We gave the plants a foliar spray of seaweed and finished the compost layer of mulch to fertilize and increase water retention. Expect more mandalas of garden abundance. This week we harvested the Turkish Pumpkin Eggplants, red long beans (makes a nice garden makeover), peppers, herbs and more tomatoes. The purple sweet potatoes, tumeric, sunchokes, southern peas and warm season greens like Egyptian spinach (molokhia), chaya spinach, are really taking off. We planted more peanuts and dry beans and inoculated the corn with a liquid spores of the fungus Huitlocoche. Learn more here about the experiment we are trying. 

Join us next Saturday from 9-11 as grow together this summer in the garden. All ages and abilities welcome! Sign up at AustinOrganicGardeners.org
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What to Plant Now: Fruiting Plants

6/27/2023

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Picture
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. It's also time to start your tomatoes indoors. 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
  • Amaranth 
  • Melons
  • Okra
  • Peas (Southern)
  • Pumpkin
  • Squash (Summer/Winter)
SEED INDOORS
  • Tomatoes
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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Inoculating Corn with Huitlacoche

6/23/2023

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Last week we inoculated the corn at Zilker Botanical Gardens with a liquid culture of #huitlacoche ! Now we wait give 🙏🕯️and hope we grow some for our 🌮.

If you want to take part in this experiment, we are offering liquid cultures while supplies last. Detailed written instructions and sign up is on the Central Texas Mycology blog.

We have some corny prizes we will be giving away to people who successfully cultivate or accidentally grow Huitlacoche in 2023. If you have successfully grown Huitlacoche on corn, tag or DM us with your stories and recommendations!

You can enjoy Huitlacoche seasonally at several Mexican restaurants in the area including @fondasanmigueltx, @suerteatx, @lichascantina, @misaboroax, Hecho En Mexico, @nixtataqueria, @comedortx, @lacondesaaustin, @elnaranjoaustin
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What to Plant Now: Warm Season Greens

6/19/2023

Comments

 
Picture
We just passed the New Moon phase and are now approaching the First Quarter and are in Waxing Crescent. It’s a good time to plant warm season leafy greens and cover crops to protect the soil. 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. As things heat up these next couple months, 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.
​
Direct Seed or Transplant 
  • Amaranth 
  • Brazilian Spinach
  • Chaya Spinach
  • Egyptian Spinach (Molokhia)
  • Lamb’s Quarter 
  • Longevity Spinach
  • Malabar Spinach
  • New Zealand Spinach
  • Perpetual Spinach (Leaf Beet Chard)
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Leafy Greens Growing Guide.
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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