April 22 2006 Timely Tips

GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

BEXAR COUNTY

BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

April 22, 2006

  • Supplement your hummingbird-friendly plants with sugar-water feeders. Use one part sugar and three parts water by volume. You do not need to boil the water or use food coloring, but neither hurts the birds.
  • If you want to collect the bluebonnet seeds, wait until the pods are full size and some browning shows. Collect the whole plant and hang them to dry before shelling the pods.
  • Fertilize pecan trees with a supplemental 21-0-0 ratio at 1 lb. per inch of trunk diameter to encourage good nut production. Apply thinly along the drip line so you don’t burn your grass.
  • Plant caladium tubers now. Caladiums are tropical in origin and won’t grow well until the soil temperature is warm. Incorporate lots of compost with bone and blood meal at planting time.
  • Side-dress tomatoes and peppers with half a cup of slow release lawn fertilizer when the fruit first sets. Tomato hornworms can be controlled with Bt.

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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