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Don’t let the heat burn you out of the garden
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It is so hot in Texas that most gardeners are ready to throw in the trowel and call it a year for flowers and veggies. But if you can get up early enough each morning to do a little work before the sun cooks you, you will be rewarded with a lovely garden in the fall.
Fall Veggies
Now is the time to plant seedlings to get bush green beans, squash, melons and cucumbers late in the year. Early August also is the latest you should plant your fall tomatoes if you didn’t get to that chore in the middle of July. Mid-August is ideal for broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. Lettuce, spinach, beet, turnip, carrot and radish seeds can go directly into the dirt in early September.
Because of the heat, mulch well to maintain moisture and to protect against harsh temperatures. A good 2”-3” of mulch is necessary to do the job right.
Fall Flowers
August also is a good month to sow seeds in flats or pots for snapdragons, pansies, dianthus, and other cool-weather bloomers. If you admire the Texas state flower, plant bluebonnet seeds in flats for spring blooms 2010.
When planning next year’s flower garden, consider using the drought and heat-tolerant plants, such as lantana, which comes in a variety of colors; daisies that thrive in full sun, fragrant lavender and dianthus in shades of pink, red and white. Lamb’s ear is a fast spreader and has a wonderful, soft texture. Yarrow features feathery stems and attracts butterflies to your yard.
Also this month, divide iris, day lilies, Shasta daisies and violets. Share or trade your extra plants with fellow gardeners. Keep your roses in good shape with fertilizer and pruning.
Despite the horrible Texas heat, don’t give up on the garden. Stick with your program and remember this statement from of my Master Gardener friends: “You never get to know a plant unless you kill it three times.”
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