Vegetables:
Believe it or not, it is time to plant tomato plants once again! Tomatoes may be successfully grown for a fall harvest in Central Texas if planted this month. You can purchase transplants or use your spring tomato plants again if they are not infested with insects or disease. Read how to grow Fall Tomatoes in our blog HERE.
We suggest choosing either a “determinate” type tomato (see info sheet), or a variety that has 60-70 “days to harvest”. I have also grown some 80-90 “days to harvest” varieties such as Cherokee Purple, and if we don’t have an early winter, they will produce nicely. Since we never know when we will have a freeze, you might combine several varieties for fall!
Pumpkin seeds may be planted early to mid-month. Mid to late-month, seeds from Okra, Southern Pea and Winter Squash may be planted. Plant transplants of Eggplant, Tomatoes and Peppers mid-month for a fall harvest. (See “Planting Guide for Central Texas” for planting times)
If it has not rained an inch or more in the week prior to seeding, set the sprinkler in the garden to soak the soil well a couple of days before planting. Providing afternoon shade to the young seedlings using make-shift cardboard structures, row cover, sheets or even umbrellas, will often give better results with germination and seedling production. Planting seeds slightly deeper and providing a layer of mulch or compost to retain moisture is helpful as well.
Roses:
Roses could use dead-heading and fertilizing this month for blooms to continue throughout the summer. Use Maestro Grow Rose Glo organic fertilizer for best results to avoid “fertilizer burn”. Check Roses for insects and disease and clean up any diseased leaves that have fallen under plants.
Fruit Trees:
Fertilize young fruit trees (except pear) with MicroLife organic fertilizer for Fruit and Citrus.
Lawns:
Water lawns to a depth of 4″ to 6”. Need help knowing how long to water? Watch our video on how to determine watering times HERE.
Set mower higher in shady areas to promote dense turf.
Shrubs and Trees:
Mulch bare soil in beds to conserve moisture. Pull mulch 3” away from trunks to prevent damage to the vascular system. Water deeply to encourage deep root systems.
Fertilize shrubs and trees with an organic fertilizer such as MicroLife 6-2-4. Crape Myrtles, which are blooming heavily right now could use the extra nutrients.
Check new growth on Texas Mountain Laurels for Genista caterpillars. Read about this hungry, hungry caterpillar HERE.
Annuals:
Outdoor container plants need daily watering. Watch our video on how to water outdoor pots correctly HERE.
Remove saucers from beneath pots and water over and over again, until soil is well saturated.
Blooming plants will benefit from an application of fertilizer. Be sure to water the plant the night before you fertilize if using non-organic nitrogen to avoid root burn. I love NutriStar ‘ColorStar’ time-release fertilizer for my flowering plants. Apply once a month during the growing season, March through Sept.
Watch for caterpillars chewing holes in Sweet Potato Vine, Bougainvillea and defoliating Vinca major ground cover. Spray weekly with Bt or Spinosad if caterpillars are a problem.
Perennials:
Watch for Lacebug damage on Lantanas. The leaves will appear “bleached-out” and there will be black specks on the back of the leaves. Damage usually appears in July and August. Cut these plants back pretty hard, fertilize them, and when new growth appears, protect the new foliage by spraying with a product labeled for Lacebugs. Please consult nursery staff for recommendations.
