GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

BEXAR COUNTY  BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

September 26, 2009

“Fall is for Planting.” Many nurseries and garden centers are passing on the savings to you, the customer. The cooler fall weather is the ideal time in establishing plants throughout the winter season, this leads to optimal spring growth and development. New trees, shrubs and most landscape plants would be happier in establishment throughout our mild winters then our extreme hot summers.

If young maturing cucumbers, eggplant, peppers or any other vegetables are showing small holes in the newest developing leaves, most likely this is damage from a flea beetle or spotted cucumber beetle. Manually remove and dispose of the chewing culprits or treat with 5% Sevin dust.

Keep watchful eyes on small moths hovering around the fall vegetable garden? They lay eggs on many young developing broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower plants. Observe often the backside of the leaves to dispose of eggs or young maturing caterpillars. Dusting with Dipel dust or drenching with liquid Spinosad is a very efficient means of control.

Keep visibly bearing pecan trees watered if you want full nuts. One to two inches per week over the area covered by the crown of the tree is sufficient.

David Rodriguez is the County Extension Agent-Horticulture with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service 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.