October 20 2007 Timely Tips

GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

BEXAR COUNTY  BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

October 20, 2007

  • Sow seeds of Texas Grano 1015 Y, the Texas ‘Supersweet’ onion very shallow in four-inch pots consisting of a premium potting mix. Keep an eye on the young germinated plants till February from any potential cold spells. For the best selection of mail order Onion transplants in the state, go to http://www.dixondalefarms.com/.
  • Plant Tecolote Ranunculus the Persian Buttercup in your garden or flower pots which will make a great cut flower next spring. Pre-soak bulbs in water for one hour and plant with the toes down, two inches deep.
  • The first expected frost date is normally mid-November. Have a game plan ready for protecting cold sensitive or un-established plants. Tarps, old blankets, N-sulate or Gro-web covers, etc. Clear polyethylene plastic, by itself, is useless and often burns with no insulative properties when directly touching a plant.
  • Tender or cold sensitive plants should be gradually moved into the house or into a protected 10 mil layer enclosed greenhouse. Drench with an insecticide with pyrethrium to minimize or prevent insects. A thirty day systemic insecticide granular may also be used.
  • Just like grass clippings, leaves that will be falling should be used as mulch in flower beds or around trees. Better yet, incorporate into the compost pile. The landfills are overflowing with materials that are “FREE” fertilizer and should be incorporating back into our landscapes and gardens.

David Rodriguez is County Extension Agent-Horticulture with Texas Cooperative Extension in Bexar County. For more information, call the Master Gardener “Hotline” (210) 467-6575 or visit our County Extension website at http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu.

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