Posts by Christine

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Freshly dug potatoes

potatoes

Nearly 50 pounds of potatoes were dug on June 10, 2013. These potatoes went through 3 heavy frosts that caused significant above ground plant dieback. Had there been no frosts, we probably would have easily doubled the harvested weight. There are 9 pounds of potatoes in this large bowl. Red potatoes are Red Lasota and White potatoes are Kennebec. Both potatoes performed exceptionally well this year! Potatoes need loose soil; watch for potato rot with excessive moisture — especially if it’s hot outside!

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Ornamentals–Mimosa Tree

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Mimosa [Albizia julibrissin]

The Mimosa tree produces beautiful pink feathery bloom show from mid spring through early summer (late April through June in central Texas). The pictured tree was planted from seed 2 years ago and is  still small enough for me to take this picture from the top! Mimosa grows rapidly but does not live long (about 20 years) so it is not always intentionally included in the landscape. The  hummingbirds  love this tree, so add a feeder or two—and a bench to view the birds and the fluffy pink plumes!

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Kinds of Gardens

To this point, have limited what I select to grow my garden based on environmental considerations. With an understanding that the environment has extremes of weather, I generally maintain only those plants that can tolerate all extremes of the weather wherever my yard is located.

Now to get past the boring and move towards the interesting–plants! Ihave multiple gardens that include ornamental, vegetable,and/or fruit plants.

Ornamental plants are designed for some aesthetic purpose. Ornamentals grown here include; trees, shrubs, roses, and flowering plants (annuals and perennials). Some ornamentals can be consumed by humans (e.g., daylilies, or rose hips).

Vegetable plants have nutritional value and the gardener generally likes to eat the plants that are grown–or at least know someone who does! Spring garden plants that grown here include; green beans, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, okra, squash, and cucumbers. Spring garden plants to not tolerate cold temperatures and will be destroyed by frost, or freezing temperatures. Follow garden plants I like to grow include; broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, carrots, brussel sprouts, and cabbage. Fall plants can take cold temperatures and freezing (unless the temperature goes below about 15F).

Fruit plants grown here include; pears (not this year–more details about that later!), peaches, plums, berries, and pecans (nut group–new to the garden this year!).

This blog entry is just about the kinds of gardens grown here, my next entries will begin to document what happens to the plants over time. This Spring has been relatively cool and wet for Texas — so I’ve got some magnificient plant growth and blooms in all of the gardens right now! As the heat increases, bugs, molds, bacteria, and viruses also increase and plague plants (more on that later as well!)

Upcoming posts will include pictures of what is currently growing in each of the gardens!

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Environmental Effects on Corn

Here is an example of  the effects of environment.

This year, we planted corn 10 days later than last year (it was cooler than usual this spring).

We planted about the same number of seeds, and most of the seeds germinated. Unfortunately, there were 3 frosts and light freezes from mid April until mid May. Some corn plants were damaged by the frost — despite being covered with hay mulch for protection.

On May 19, 2012, we harvested an abundance of corn (32 quart bags in the freezer!); however, on May 24, 2013, the corn was still at least 3 weeks from mature and fewer than half the plants survived. With heavy rains starting in late April, the grass has nearly taken  over.

May 19, 2012 corn

May 19, 2012 corn

May 24, 2013 corn

May 24, 2013 corn