Little Texas Garden update

[TxArmour12b]

I thought I’d share some of my little Texas garden. Started everything about the end of February. Rogue pumpkin vine is growing big,I’ll think twice before composting pumpkins again. Corn is tall with silks forming, beans in the same bed have reached the tops of their 6ft poles. Potatoes are dying back, already harvested a few as baby potatoes and letting these ones reach their full potential. Cucumbers are growing and starting to flower. Peanuts are sprouting. Ridiculously hot chilis are starting to produce next to them (lemon citrus chili). Sweet potato was just transplanted in and seems to be doing ok despite our 96F+ days. Dragonfruit is exploding (I never would have guessed how fast it grows). Tomatoes are growing tall (vining) and bushy (bush type) (Thai pink egg seedlings are coming in too) and yellow flowers are all over the plants. We’re blessed with the climate that I was able to plant a strawberry popping corn yesterday and very excited for that.

 

[TxArmour12b]

This digging machine is the reason for the green netting, if Labradors aren’t swimming or chasing a ball…they are digging in you favorite garden bed

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

That looks amazing! I love seeing that.
My cucumbers have just started fruiting actually, so it must be the right season for them! I am so excited to eat them. Your plants look really healthy too, it's great

The 'digging machine' is really cute also! The cutest digger out there I bet. Naughty on him trying to dig up your garden though, haha.

 

[TxArmour12b]

Thank you! It’s been so fun watching it all grow and trying new things. If only i can train my digging machine to dig productively lol I’m excited for lemon cucumbers and some home fermented pickles

 

[cloxchulanthevegginator]

Garden Looks Great!

Fellow Texas food gardener here so I'll share a couple things that are helping me:
1. Since soil is something you cultivate over time - I'm watering my plants every 1 or 2 weeks with liquid fish fertilizer (https://www.lowes.com/pd/Alaska-Fish-Fertilizer-1-Gallon-All-Purpose-Food/5013200857) and composting in a tumbler. I'm unsure of my composting technique but will probably end up moving to vermicomposting as it takes HALF the time of traditional composting which is an advantage since I'm trying to grow food to sustain a small family
2. Dried out grass clippings for the lawn have made a great mulch for my raised bed, apparently you should be mulching to conserve the water and nutrients in the soil, you can probably just scrape off the top layer and put it in the compost when you're done so you can work your soil.


but one thing I'd like to ask you since we're in the same state:
How ofter are you watering everything? I'm watering about once a week and starting this week it will just be at the base of the plants.

 

[TxArmour12b]

Garden Looks Great!

Fellow Texas food gardener here so I'll share a couple things that are helping me:
1. Since soil is something you cultivate over time - I'm watering my plants every 1 or 2 weeks with liquid fish fertilizer (https://www.lowes.com/pd/Alaska-Fish-Fertilizer-1-Gallon-All-Purpose-Food/5013200857) and composting in a tumbler. I'm unsure of my composting technique but will probably end up moving to vermicomposting as it takes HALF the time of traditional composting which is an advantage since I'm trying to grow food to sustain a small family
2. Dried out grass clippings for the lawn have made a great mulch for my raised bed, apparently you should be mulching to conserve the water and nutrients in the soil, you can probably just scrape off the top layer and put it in the compost when you're done so you can work your soil.


but one thing I'd like to ask you since we're in the same state:
How ofter are you watering everything? I'm watering about once a week and starting this week it will just be at the base of the plants.

I’ve been watering daily, lately twice daily with the heat we’ve been having. I live in southeast Texas. I’ve been composting my grass clippings and using oak leaves as mulch. I fertilize once a month with blood and bone and every two weeks in between with fish emulsion.

 

[cloxchulanthevegginator]

I’ve been watering daily, lately twice daily with the heat we’ve been having. I live in southeast Texas. I’ve been composting my grass clippings and using oak leaves as mulch. I fertilize once a month with blood and bone and every two weeks in between with fish emulsion.

SUPER helpful information here. Espeically RE how often you're fertilizing cause I'm just now getting into that.

One thing that sticks out though, why BOTH the blood and bone AND fish emulsion? is that specific to what you're growing or is that some kind of best practice?

 

[TxArmour12b]

SUPER helpful information here. Espeically RE how often you're fertilizing cause I'm just now getting into that.

One thing that sticks out though, why BOTH the blood and bone AND fish emulsion? is that specific to what you're growing or is that some kind of best practice?

I do the blood and bone because it’s slow release and organic. I water with the fish emulsion to give plants a quick pick-me-up and a little boost. I mix just a little bit (less than half a cup) into a gallon of water and water just about everything with the mix

 

[DivingTemptress]

I am also in Texas, on the gulf coast south of Houston. I too have a digger, so have put fencing around that beds to prevent "land mines" in my beds. Lots of benefits in growing in our Texas heat and have as much (or more) success in my fall garden than summer. I tend to grow more perennials than annuals ... more yield with less work. I'd be happy to discuss gardening with y'all anytime!
Happy Gardening!