September 15 2007 Timely Tips

GARDENING CALENDAR

TEXAS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

BEXAR COUNTY BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

September 15, 2007

  • Mid-September through October is the ideal and best time to plant healthy well established Strawberry transplants. Plant the newest Extension varieties, Chandler and Seascape. Make sure from now to the end of December, that all flowers and long shoots are pinched off. This will put energy back into the plant’s crown to produce up to one pint of fruit per plant starting in April of next year.
  • Your fall vegetable garden should be in full gear and almost completely planted by now. Remember, vegetables are short term crops which require adequate and proper amounts of nutrition for exceptional quality yields. A ten foot linear row should be supplemented fed (side-dressed) once every 7-14 days with one cup of slow release 19-5-9 analysis. Fertilizer should be watered in thoroughly after application.
  • Look to add to your vegetable garden in the next couple weeks; Chinese cabbage, Crawford lettuce, spinach and collards. Greens are always nutritious and add flavor to any meal.
  • Keep the vegetable garden manicured. Prevent weeds with a thin layer of cedar mulch. This will also help cut back on watering needs, and a weed-free garden tends to have less insect and disease problems.
  • Did your turf grass have weed problems last spring? Well, consider applying a pre-emergent herbicide now to minimize this from happening. A granular formulation containing Dimension and Portrait would be most desirable.

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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