What to Plant Now: July 25 - 31

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. It’s always best to try to plant with the coming rains which are in the forecast. 

TRANSPLANT
Sweet Potato Slips 
Since we had an unusually cool summer so far, there is still enough time to plant slips before the first frost. 

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.
 
GIVEAWAY
We have a few more purple sweet potato slips and multiplying onion bulbs to give away this month to the first person to answer this question correctly? 

What methodology of organic farming does Tim Miller implement?

WHERE TO BUY
The Natural Gardener and Cultivate Holistic Supply will have 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.

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