Gardening in Central Texas:

Gardening in Central Texas can be a tricky proposition to new comers to the a. At first glance, it seems t the long summer would be ideal growing all kinds of fantastic items, but in fact no. The heat is too intense, the rain too infrequent, to support most of w northerners consider viable summer crops.

If you insist upon gardening in the summer, you must plant early. Long-maing crops, t is crops t n 90-120 days, best summer gardens. The average last freeze date in Austin is March 18. With t in mind, plant the following from mid-February to mid-March:
* Beets
* Your cole crops, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi
* Carrots
* Chard
* Garlic
* Okra
* Onion
* Parsley
* Radishes
* Spinach
* Turnips
* Asparagus
April to May is good corn, cucumbers (if you brave enough to even try), beans, peas, tomato and pepper transplants, and watermelon. You'll find t m traditional southern crops, like okra, greens, and black-eyed peas, generally m resistant to hot temperaes and low moise.

Simply adhering to the schedule will not necessarily ensure your success. Bee plang, preparing your beds by tilling or working them by hand is critical to aerating the l. Try plang the same day or the day after you have prepd your beds, to prevent tiny ws t have been brought to the surface by your ministrations from germinating and becoming a nuisance.

You'll also n to add nutrients to the l. Compost is one of your best fertilizers and can be made at home or purchased from garden supply sts. One garden shopping gem in Austin is the Naal Gardener on Old Bee Caves road. There, you can buy a wide variety of organic composts in a m economical bag-it-yourself mat.

Once you have planted your ss or transplants, you really must well mh them to protect them from the harsh Texas sun. After plang, cover with at least 3 inches of mh, though the amount you use varies according to the type of mh being employed. The best mhes include shredded cedar, hardwood bark, or native tree trimmings, as well as leaves or compost. Even hay can be an effective mh if used in sufficient quaties. Mh protects the l from the extreme temperaes, shades out ws, conserves moise, and helps supply nutrients to the l.

Winter gardening may be an easier pursuit, because of the m gele climate. The average first freeze date in Austin is November 22, so vegetables t mae in 30-70 days ideal fall plang. September is a good time to plant from ss the following: beans, the cole crops, carrots, cucumbers, summer squash and potatoes. If you hanker after corn, pumpkins, or winter squash, plant those ss in early August. You can put mustard greens, onions, radishes, spinach, and nips in through early to late November.

Bee plang your winter garden, you should amend the l with a good few inches of compost, again working by hand or tilling so t the l is well aerated. If you plang slings, you n to shade your l so t they won't be instantly fried. Cool off the l like this a few days bee plang. When you ready to plant, do not set your transplants out in full sun in dry l. Without recent rain, you n to well water your l a least a day or two bee plang.

And again, don't get to heavily mh. Leaves, grass, or any of the mhes meoned above will help keep your newly planted beds at a reasonable temperae ul your slings can really take root.