PLOW & HOSE Gardening in Central Texas

Central Texas has finally passed the Last Average Frost Date--with cautious optimism WE CAN PLANT OUR GARDENS!!! Also, it's time to prune fruit trees and the last segment of the show Julie highlights jujube trees. Heck yeah.

Julie is not patient. She's sick of this cold, damp, dumb weather. This week's episode focuses on the very, very basics of HOUSEPLANTS. Part 1.

We are soooo close to warmer spring days--let's get ready. Let's plant one last round of cold season crops outside, but also start lots more inside. It's time to plant Irish Potatoes in Central Texas! + herbs, like basil & borage.

Ugh...dead days of Texas "winter", value of weeds, planting citrus trees & Valentine's Day = pruning roses WOOHOO

Even fruit trees need a break. Winter temperatures mean dormancy for fruit trees. A primer on chill hour requirements plus alternatives to traditional fruiting landscape plants.

It's winter. It's blah. You kill plants. It's ok. Get back in the garden.

Want to plant long-season, warm weather crops ASAP? Tomatoes, peppers, basil...??? That means y'all need to start indoors now! like this week! Also short dissertation on cedar & lots of details on types of tomatoes

2022's first freeze for Taylor & our part of Central Texas--Julie's attempts at winterizing kind of okay, kind of a fail. But the indoor plants are happy including the African violets. Plus more info on starting seeds! We need to get seeds ordered and trays started so we can transplant ASAP.

Brrr! Kinda cold in Central Texas--not a lot going on in the garden--but it's a great time to start planning for pre-spring, spring & summer gardens harvest--Let's get some seeds!

Winter may have changed things outside, but we can still enjoy beautiful blooms & foliage inside during the holidays.

The usual Central Texas commentary followed by gift ideas for plant people! Permaculture projects, tools & things to enhance your outdoor space.

It's December...Warm weather extends out planting windows--chit chat about onions plus a SOLID case agains raking those fall leaves.

Permaculture is really cool! Earth friendly practices that make gardening easier while increasing yields. Julie spends some time breaking down permaculture ideas to incorporate with your gardening.

Oh man...Chinese Tallow are so pretty in the fall! Yeah, but not a great tree for natural for some.

Halloween time means cooler temps and less daylight! Familiar creatures are moving on to warmer locations, but new ones are coming around. Also time to start winterizing--moving houseplants in and prepping for cooler temperatures!

Horseherb is a magnificent groundcover. Julie finally gets rid of dead/dying/trashy Arizona Ash trees and contemplates other native & adaptive replacement trees--like Chinese Pistache, Shumard Oaks & Loquats. Yay!

Fall in Texas brings allergens, weeds and an optimal planting window for pretty much everything!

Want bluebonnets & other spring wildflowers in your yard? Julie discusses site selections, prep, planting and maintaining your wildflower patch.

Nearly a whole show about lettuce. Yep. Lettuce. Add lettuce to your garden. Julie approves. Plus dividing perennials.

It's hot...it's dry and between growing seasons...but Julie discovers lots of red around the yard. Refreshing roselle hibiscus, hella spicy chiltepin peppers and waiting for the Ox Blood Lilies to arrive

Early September is starting off hot--pecans dropping, but looking forward to planting broccoli, kale, and other brassicas!

Hot & tired--Julie takes a little break in the garden. The sage is blooming--will it rain? MAYBE! Fall gardening and mulberries! yay!

So many insects--leafhoppers on okra, butterflies & caterpillars everywhere--and all these Army Worms...

Late summer infestation of cactus bugs--deep dive in to dragonfruits and night blooming cereus! With just a little extra info on horticultural oil.

Not a lot is going on right now--but we can do some summer chores while we wait for new growth--then Julie delves into basil.

Beat the heat tips. Getting ready for planting the fall garden including delicious POTATOES. Sugar Rush Peach Peppers & Coral Vine feature--plus a taste test...gone...WRONG.

Add more Texas hardy superstar plants for easy gardening and attracting pollinators...plus...cutting back tomatoes for the fall garden!

Pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds all need nectar plants--Julie discusses more Texas native plants that pollinators love! Turk's Cap, Flame Acanthus & Lantana--drought & heat tolerant

The backyard has been taken over by purple passionflowers & gulf fritillary butterflies. Julie also babysits some monarch butterflies & discusses butterfly & pollinator friendly gardening.

Fall gardening is coming up--another chance to plant cucumbers and the perfect time to plant pumpkins! Also musings on using tobacco to make a DIY insecticide.

Hi. It's hot. July is hard on plants. It's ok. Lots of good stuff like summer harvesting, summer recipes, and planning for the fall garden. Tips for getting ready. Listen now.

Crape myrtles, bug out box (!), and planning for fall--it starts now! Plus tomato propagation for fall harvest!

Julie returns from a quick trip to the beach with new botanical observations, stressed out squash & summer garden care--with instructions on making "fancy" aerated, oxygenated compost tea.

The rain complicates gardening...uprooted trees, but also pretty trees.

All this rain in Central Texas is dampening everything! Black spot on grapes, tomato blossom drop, chlorosis, mosquitos & fungi. Eh...

The month's winding down. Garden update: Squash vine borers have ascended on the squash plants in Julie's backyard garden. Obsession & extreme measures unfold. Plus a primer on building healthy compost.

Spring maintenance and decoding the mysterious planting category of warm season greens.

Gardening by observation and Julie's love song to Okra, the best summer plant ever.

Black swallowtail caterpillars show up in the backyard, inspiring a discussion on butterfly gardening. Nectar & host plant recommendations.

Grow loofahs (luffas) in your backyard! This gourd is multipurpose--you can wash with it, you can eat it, and it's pretty. Also Julie discusses earth friendly ways to manage pests.

Backyard strawberries and dealing with pillbug damage. Want to grow your own sweet potato slips? Cool! Get started now for planting by the end of June!

Wildflowers like bluebonnets & paintbrushes are finally making an appearance. Plus Julie gets grumpy over non-native & invasive bastard cabbage.

Compelling reasons for starting and maintain a compost pile + backyard chickens (It's permaculture!)

Things are coming back alive, lots of surprises in Central Texas gardens & starting brand new beds and African Keyhole Gardening.

Central Texas last average frost date has past! Warmer weather, cautious optimism, lawns & a little weed appreciation with some new garden bed advice.

Post-snowstorm damage--triaging the carnage. What's dead? What's not? What to do with this mess...

Snow, Ice, extreme cold...during a pandemic. Assessing the damage and where to start with the garden clean up.