We started the garden kinda late and have been adding to it. In Texas the growing season is very long (and hot), so the garden should be fine overall. We repurposed an old swing set we had to make a trellis for the cucumbers shown on this side.
Tomatoes and a couple of possible rhubarb plants are on this side of the big planting bag. The rhubarb was an experiment and the tubers cost $1 at Tractor Supply on clearance. They were not in the best shape and I’m just glad 2 are growing. However, we are unsure if these 2 plants are actually rhubarb haha. They vaguely resemble a weed growing next to the planter and the stalks are no longer red. SO, we’ll see.
The rest of the garden is in flower pots and buckets. The tomato plants and peppers in buckets are not doing great. I think I’m going to have to further amend the soil. I am using a mix of garden dirt, compost and shredded paper in the pots. After our big rains recently some of the dirt in the buckets really got packed down. I think it needs to be loosened with a trowel and more compost added.
My gardening mentor had a big property that used to be a dairy farm. She had the whole property organic certified and taught me a lot about growing things. One thing she taught me was to use shredded paper as mulch. In north Texas it is extremely windy. I mixed the shredded paper into the top layers in the buckets, rather than using it as mulch on top. I also did this in the pots. I am not sure if this is what is causing the soil to be so packed down. Further experimentation is required! That’s what gardening is all about!
One resource I use constantly for my Texas garden is the Texas A&M website. I’ve linked it below. It is chock full of gardening information for Texas, including fruit and nut tree information.
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/
Let me know about some of your garden experiments! I’d love to hear from my readers in the comments!
The basil is already trying to flower and I think I’m going to have to move it inside. I feel like it’s early for it to be flowering. There have been some days of intense heat, but not very many.
We bought 2 mini rose bushes for $2 each at Wal-Mart. I got them into pots and the buds they had are falling off but they are showing new growth! First time for growing any roses. I also have an Easter lily that was beautiful this year and we got that into a pot.
This red bucket with the leafy greens has got horseradish planted in it. Its doing really well. I read that horseradish spreads really bad and to start it in a bucket. I plan to get a much larger container for it. I don’t personally eat horseradish. However, there are people in my life that do. It is a fun, $1 experiment that’s working out!
Overall, I am happy with the garden so far. It is starting to get hot in North Texas and we’ll have to keep it watered well. I am so happy to have a space for a garden. I have the freedom to do mostly what I want with it. I have not had that in the past and was derided for my somewhat chaotic gardens. Glad to be free!
I hope for many cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes for salsa this year. This will happen if I can get the tomatoes in the buckets going. I also plan to build tomato cages out of sticks we have lying around the property.
What have you done with your garden this year that has worked? Let me know in the comments!
Look for a chicken post soon!
Taryn
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