It really is time to locate the tools, make your garden plan and get planting!

Gardening brings us hope for a bountiful harvest.

We have faith that little seeds will grow into an abundant crop, and we love the time re-connecting with nature and friends as we discuss our garden successes and mishaps.





What to watch for:

Freeze Alerts! If a freeze is imminent and you have planted tender tomato or pepper transplants, search for 5 gallon buckets for protection.

Other crops can be covered with freeze cloth, but remove the buckets or cloth as soon as the temps get above freezing, or you might bake them in the warm-up.

If you find yourself with a lack of space, or maybe too much shade in the backyard, you might consider container gardening.

Another option includes foodscaping front flower beds with herbs or pretty chard, spinach, and lettuces.

Resources:

Our Texas State Department of Agriculture has a wonderful assortment of e-zines geared towards what to grow, what's in season, and recipes to prepare our state’s great bounty. Check them out here.

Soil Prep:

1st time bed preparation begins with removing existing grass and weeds; adding compost, lava sand, organic fertilizer, expanded shale (one time only in a plot), cornmeal or alfalfa meal and dry molasses and working it into the native soil. Your total mix should be at or slightly above the top of bed for best root zone growth. Inoculate your bed with beneficial microbes from worm compost or worm compost tea and immediately mulch to protect microbes.

The mulch will protect the plants as well as the microbes in your soil that allow for healthy plants. Mulch also helps retain water, prevent weeds, and mediate soil temperatures. Good choices are leaves, straw, or old, rotted hay. (Avoid recently cut hay, as it might contain active herbicide.)

What to plant this month:

Early March:

Plant leaf and root vegetables, including lettuce, radishes, carrots, spinach, beets, collards, mustard, chard and turnips.

Mid to late March:

Options include cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, squash, Southern Peas, watermelon, and winter squash.

Do not plant tomato and pepper transplants until late in the month for best results. For seeds, provide a moist seedbed until sprouts are approximately 2 inches tall.