Spring is (almost) in the air

February in central Texas means that spring gardening is only about a month away! I am in full-on planning mode (even though today it's about 35° outside and rainy).

Gardening in Texas can be tricky. Here we have long, harsh summers which causes plant stress, but also very mild winters, which extends the fall planting season. The ground never gets that cold, meaning pests aren't dormant during the cooler season like they might be in other areas. Our soil is sandy or full of clay, meaning some plants won't grow without plenty of nutritional soil supplements. And then there's the whole drought problem...

So, all that being said, it is still possible to produce a flourishing Texas garden if you have the right resources. Here are some of the best I've found so far.

Click the link in the accompanying paragraph for a larger, interactive version.

Something I didn't really know about until last year are hardiness zones. Hardiness zone maps divide the US based on seasons, how cold the winters get and average dates of final/first frost in the spring and fall. Central Texas is in zone 8 (or 8b, according to some really specific maps). This zone has fairly mild winters, with lowest average temperatures of 15-20° F. Final frost date is estimated to be between March 15th-30th, which gives us a nice long spring season before the summer kicks in full-force. Those dates are an estimate, though, and not a promise! Last year I put out transplants in mid-March and they suffered through 2 hailstorms and a freeze warning before the spring temperatures stabilized. 

 Another great resource is the Texas AgriLife Extension Service's site. This site is specifically tailored to Texas gardeners. It can be frustrating to read generic gardening books that are like "happy, warm summertime! Flourishing plants in July and August. First frost in late September!" In Texas, August is dry, scorching and cruel. Plants struggle and need extra care. And the first autumn frost date is usually not until early December, giving a whole second planting season in the fall. 

Last year I did a spring garden only. This year I'd love to do spring and fall. There are some plants that Texas gardeners recommend planting ONLY in the fall, such as strawberries! Strawberries won't survive the harsh summers, but should flourish in the cooler fall temperatures. 

I've found some good tips and planning ideas that I've posted to Pinterest. Ideas for garden planning, creative solutions for small spaces, fertilizing tips and pest control. Oh, my adventures with pests last summer...

This beetle has evil, evil babies.

Last summer I lost all my squash to the larvae of squash vine borer beetles. These are vicious grubs that hatch inside the vines and suck up all the nutrients, killing the plant from the bottom up. No use trying pest control at this point: once they're inside, your plants don't have a chance. It made me so sad to watch my beautiful plants die. One day they were covered in blossoms and the next day...dead. Never saw it coming. But this year I will treat the soil ahead of time and consistently apply pest deterrents to try and prevent eggs from being laid, as suggested here.




Last spring I tried 3 different planting areas: a small raised bed (3 ft. x 3 ft.) filled with gardening soil, a traditional in-ground bed with natural soil + some gardening soil, and large pots/planters (filled with the same gardening soil, which wasn't the smartest decision).
This year I hope to expand the raised bed and continue using the pots, but buy 2 different soils. Potting soil is generally less dense than gardening soil and gives confined roots more air, water and growing space. I also want to place my small, potted herbs on a raised table or platform so they are easier to prune, water and harvest.

Last year's adorable little garden.

 

Maybe some day...

Some other good resources:
The Cook's Garden is a seed catalog that has tons of great online articles about soil, planting tips, plant varieties, etc.
Raised garden bed instructions from The Pioneer Woman.
This Kitchen Garden Planner from Gardener's Supply Company is amazing. They provided pre-planned diagrams you can print out or a design-your-own tool that makes it easy to work with the space you have! Great articles and other resources available on their website, too. 

Yay gardening! Now to bundle up on the couch and wait for spring. :-)