GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

BEXAR COUNTY BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

August 22, 2009

The most efficient way to water your fall vegetable garden is to set up a drip irrigation system underneath a two inch layer of organic mulch. This will minimize weeds and most importantly conserve moisture. The less water a vegetable plant gets on its leaves, the less susceptible it is to disease, insect or spider mites.

The fall vegetable garden should be in full gear in the next two months. If you have not done so, you can still plant fall tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. The fall beds should be weed free and rejuvenated with liberal amounts of properly aged compost.

Vegetables are short term crops and are heavy feeders. If you want quality and prolific yields, you need to fertilize often.

Fertilize the fall vegetable garden a week or so before planting by incorporating an organic 4-2-3 analysis at a rate of two to three pounds per 10 linear feet. Once plants are growing, then side dress them every third week with a 19-5-9 slow-release nitrogen analysis at a rate of one cup per 10 linear row.

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.