Texas Veggie Gardeners!! Stories, Tips and ADVICE!

[galanie]

I had a tiller and sold it. I'm super lazy. What I did was use that tiller to prepare the soil for permanent garden beds, each 4x8 in size. I dig by hand some to see if the tree roots are in it, and if they are then I have to dig them out. Other than that though, no digging happens here. Just top dressing with compost and a thick mulch. And let me tell you, since I've had enough chicken manure to compost, I don't have to fertilize any more.

Now I need to add more beds for what I plan to grow this year and the drought actually helped with that. You see, where I want them has no grass growing. The drought killed it off there. So I'll just dig the top a bit but not much, just to break the ground and pile compost on it. Done. I have another bed I prepared that way and planted potatoes in it last week. Nothing showing yet but I expect they should really take off in there.

 

[hippiehen]

I planted 4 blackberry plants yesterday (Brazos)
I started 2 more flats of seeds.. herbs and tomatoes and as soon as the last of the tomato seeds get here I can finish that.

I also had to fence off my strawberries and garlic since either the ducks or the armadillos thought it would be fun to dig them up (I blame the ducks.. they are such troublemakers)
at least the boars haven't found my garden yet.. though I did see a dead one on the side of the road this morning about a mile up the road


Has anyone planted their potatoes yet?.. I am tempted to plant mine out in the bed I started (lots of compost and bunny cage droppings).. but knowing our weather i'm not sure if I should give it a go or not.

Do you have a heating mat for your seeds? I was looking for one but they are pretty pricey so I'm looking for a DIY option. Right now I'm using a regular heating pad but that's not very safe...

 

[yinepu]

Do you have a heating mat for your seeds? I was looking for one but they are pretty pricey so I'm looking for a DIY option. Right now I'm using a regular heating pad but that's not very safe...

i use the under the tank heat mats for reptiles.. had some from my snakes which i never used and they work great

 

[hippiehen]

All my seeds are sprouting!!

I guess I'll keep using the heating pad and hope it doesn't catch on fire because it seems to be working! I've got them in a window right now and might put them out on the porch for a little while this afternoon, I really don't want these tomatoes to get leggy!

Do I wait until I see the "true" leaves to put them in a new pot?

I also just ordered some cherokee purple seeds from Baker Creek on y'alls recommendation as well as some tomatillos and red carrots! Today on my chore list I'm going to load up the remnants of a round bale that the cows demolished and fertilized for me and chunk it in the garden!

I've got major spring fever!


edit: wow that was a lot of exclamation points!!!! lol

 

[yinepu]

All my seeds are sprouting!!

I guess I'll keep using the heating pad and hope it doesn't catch on fire because it seems to be working! I've got them in a window right now and might put them out on the porch for a little while this afternoon, I really don't want these tomatoes to get leggy!

Do I wait until I see the "true" leaves to put them in a new pot?

I also just ordered some cherokee purple seeds from Baker Creek on y'alls recommendation as well as some tomatillos and red carrots! Today on my chore list I'm going to load up the remnants of a round bale that the cows demolished and fertilized for me and chunk it in the garden!

I've got major spring fever!


edit: wow that was a lot of exclamation points!!!! lol

yeah.. wait until you see the first set of true leaves to transplant

I moved 2 flats outside this morning since it's supposed to be in the upper 70's..
they will come back in this evening

 

[daddykirbs]

New to this thread... I'm a novice gardener in Marion TX. I love learning about gardening. My winter garden right now is onions, 3 varieties of lettuce, spinach and kale. Thanks for sharing! It's fun to see and hear about other gardens in the same region.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Welcome DaddyKirbs!

I'm going to try Kale this spring - is it pretty easy to grow?

 

[hippiehen]

I've only ever grown the pretty, frilly kind.

 

[daddykirbs]

Welcome DaddyKirbs! I'm going to try Kale this spring - is it pretty easy to grow?

Well, so far... I have just put the plants in the ground and prayed. LOL I can't say that they are doing fantastic. Actually I'm not really sure what a Kale is supposed to look like. They are still growing, but not fast. If you click the link in my signature it will take you to my YouTube channel. In the list of videos will be one for "Texas Winter Garden". You can see the Kale in that. I'll post another update to the video soon.

 

[daddykirbs]

I've only ever grown the pretty, frilly kind.

I'm not really sure what "kind" mine is. It was next to the lettuce at the nursery

I checked out your Flickr account... and added you as a contact. Nice photos. I love the goats!