GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

BEXAR COUNTY BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

December 5, 2009

Frazier and Noble Firs are the longest lasting cut Christmas trees. Once selected, make a fresh two inch flush cut on the trunk and immediately fill an appropriate size tree stand ¾ full with water.

Apply a two inch layer of manure compost to bare spots of the vegetable garden, if a cover crop isn’t being used.

Refrigerate or freeze pecans to extend their usable life. Shelled pecans last about two months (four months left in the shell) at room temperature, 12 months refrigerated and 24 months frozen.

Be prepared to cover tomato cages with N-Sulate winter blankets when the first freeze is predicted. You often can get two or three weeks of good weather if tomatoes make it through the first freeze.

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.