With 2014 now behind us, it seems a good time to reflect on some of the important lessons that we all learned in our gardens during the last year, and to figure out how to incorporate them into our practices for 2015. Here are some of my lessons learned from last year.
1. I realized the importance of knowing where my food comes from. Not only have I started buying locally-sourced meat (even driving to the coast for seafood), but I have made growing fruits and vegetables one of my top priorities. Much of the landscaping around my home reflects this new approach.
When I install trees, I make sure they also produce food. Pecans, peaches, loquats and figs are all beautiful in their own right, and produce healthy food for the same space and water as a standard ornamental.
I also plant herbs and salad greens right into my flowerbeds. They look wonderful, and are easy to grow and tasty. Vegetables including peppers and determinate tomatoes can flourish on sunny decks and in tight spaces that need a punch of color.
2. Bunnies, squirrels and rats eat tomatoes, the plants and the fruit. Be sure to protect them well, especially when they’re young. The lower hanging fruit is the most susceptible.
3. Rats and mice love to eat organic fertilizer, so make sure you store it in a safe place away from temptation. They especially liked my TomatoTone.
4. It was a great pecan year (and critter year – see above) and I had to learn the trick for staying ahead of the squirrels. I failed at my own home – they stripped my trees overnight – but we were able to save a bountiful crop in my parents’ garden by harvesting them as soon as the husks split, rather than waiting for them to fall to the ground. Let them dry for a few weeks before shelling.
5. Stake those tomatoes and other vining plants immediately after planting. You’d be amazed at how fast they grow. Even a one week delay can create lots of extra labor trying to weave delicate branches into cages.
6. I learned about the benefits of using recycled coffee for acidification. I’ve started removing the coffee grounds from my husband’s Keurig. It’s a pain, but it is paying off for my acid-loving container plants. My citrus have greened up considerably and put on more fruit this year, and my blueberries are poised to set a great crop this spring. If you don’t have a home source of coffee, ask for some grounds from your local coffee shop.
7. Blueberries in central Texas are possible. I had a fantastic year growing my southern rabbit-eyes, and I have more than one variety planted for cross-pollination. They’re in 20 gallon pots in Metro Mix. I added acidic organic fertilizer (HollyTone) and coffee grounds. I water them with a hose, but they’d be even more successful with rain water. I harvested a fine crop this year – enough to freeze in several quart bags.
8. The importance of a deep freezer. With the addition of a new one (ok, second one … ) I am able to grow so many more veggies without worrying about what to do with all of them. I even keep carrot tops to use in stock later in the season. Very little of my garden goes to waste now and anything left over is composted.
9. The importance of mulch in a garden. Use a good pine straw and/or newspaper to help reduce moisture loss. Raised beds and containers are especially prone to quick evaporation and really benefit from a little extra soil cover. Avoid hardwood mulch because it won’t break down quick enough.
10. Finally, gardening takes time to do it right. Planning and planting correctly helps, but there is no substitution for a daily hands-on experience (even a few minutes) to get the most production and enjoyment out of your garden. Happy gardening everyone!
If you have a gardening question, send it to Chris or Amanda: iathyme@yahoo.com. Or mail your letter or postcard to: Chris Winslow. It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748
