What to Plant Now: June 25 - July 2

We just passed the summer solstice and another full moon. June’s full Moon—typically the last full Moon of spring or the first of summer—is traditionally called the Strawberry Moon. This name has been used by Algonquin, Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples, among others, to mark the ripening of “June-bearing” strawberries that are ready to be gathered. 
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. 
TRANSPLANT
Sweet Potatoes (Slips)
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It is too late to grow your own sweet potato slips which we did at home using two methods. The soil method produced up to 75 slips and we planted them at Zilker Botanical Garden a few weeks ago. We still have a few purple sweet potato slips to give away to the first person to reply and answer the following question.
What is the name of the pigment that is responsible for the purple color in sweet potatoes and other vegetables and fruit?
If you haven’t grown your own slips you can buy them at local nurseries such as the Natural Gardener and Tillery Plant Company. You can even plant small organic sweet potatoes directly in the soil.  
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 Chart on our website.

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