LISTEN ‘LOCAL’ WHEN PLANTING EDIBLES!
by BRENDA BEUST SMITH
FOR EXPERIENCED GARDENERS . . .especially longtime vegetable gardeners . . . there is no “SEASON” for edibles in this area. Harvesting in Greater Houston is a year-round joy, thanks to input of folks like Texas Extension Services (by county), Master Gardeners (by county), Houston Urban Gardeners and so many more. But at, or near, the top one has to putUrban Harvest, our educational/service organization that will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year.
I vividly remember decades ago interviewing Dr. Bob Randall. He bemoaned the fact the Houston had so many vacant lots on which residents, especially those with financial and other life challenges, could be growing their own healthy foods for both sharing and selling.
Next thing I knew, Dr. Randall had joined forces with Fourth Ward’s Deacon
Malcolm McLemore and Deacon Jean Cameron to started a chain of community gardens. From that venture, with the help of many generous,like- minded folks, grew Urban Harvest, which now includes around 200 affiliate community gardens, aids easily hundreds more that ask for with advice, along with a continual calendar of public classes, markets and freely distributed advice.
And that brings us to Urban Harvest’s latest contribution to area gardeners:the
2023 SUMMER GARDENING GUIDE. Free pdf download now available. (Full link: drive.google.com/file/d/1poOqe99VVPPQAPg6dNcojnxcpJw5fQJD/view? usp=sharing)
Why a special guide for Houston planting? Because we’re not exactly like any other region of Texas, or beyond. We are a unique subtropical pocket area, final river filter into our soil before most of our rivers reach the Gulf, not as cold as areas north, not as warm as South Texas, but often with much more rain in addition to their cold, all creating different optimum planting times from other Texas regions and certainly different from out-of-state gardeners.
For example, it’s late for us late to plant tomato seed. Best to buy already- started, healthy plants. We start tomato seed for fall harvest mid-July-early August! New to this area and our climate’s growing climates, see below:
Video with Dr. Bob Randall on much Greater Houston area’s various average climates affect gardens!)
Register now for Dr. Randall’s SAT. JULY 22: PREPARING FOR FALL ORGANIC GARDENING by BOB RANDALL, Ph.D.. and CAROL BURTON, 9:30-12:30pm,
ZOOM Live Class, Urban Harvest event, urbanharvest.org/stec_event/preparing– for-fall-organic-gardening/
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THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME . . .
especially in gardening! June can be a challenging month for even the most experienced gardeners. Temperatures will rise, rain tends to be plentiful and plants grow like crazy! But some things never change, like June Do’s and Don’ts (as published in my Lazy Gardener’s Guide*):
This month, you really should . . .
Move hibiscus into less afternoon sun if they wilt excessively, drop buds or sunburn.
Watch water gardens; levels may drop dangerously low due to evaporation.
Raise the lawnmower blade. Cutting grass too short exposes the roots to heat and drought.
Clean hummingbird feeders every 3-5 days. (Watch for black mold) Keep azaleas, camellias and other early spring bloomers well watered if our rains stop.
Deep water plants to force roots to grow downward instead of sideways. Put a bird bath near tomatoes if birds peck at the fruit. Often they are looking for moisture.
Keep an eye on trees. If they show stress, rich compost spread beneath the canopy has been known to produce dramatic results. For large old trees, seek professional help. Large trees may die from the inside out, producing new foliage even though the core is dead. These may fall over in hurricanes or severe windstorms.
If the spirit moves . . .
Pinch poinsettia and mum tips off to promote bushier growth.
To banish ants, blend garlic, liquid dishsoap, hotpeppers, water. Strain and pour over mound.
Seed or plant heat-loving annuals: coleus, cosmos (pictured), globe amaranth, mistflowers,
nasturtiums, pentas, purslane, yarrow and zinnias. Seed morning glories along bare fencelines.
Feed non-natives perennials regularly to increase bloom production.
In the water garden, keep water level up. Fertilize lilies every two weeks.
If you’re really feeling energetic . . .
Remove weeds. They steal valuable nutrients and moisture. Pinch flower buds off coleus and copper plants for prettier leaves.
Stake or use flower cages around perennials that tend to fall over, such as montbretia.
Pinch hydrangea leaf tips after blooms have faded to encourage more lush growth.
Consider downward-directed night lighting to make the yard safer, evenings outside more enjoyable.
Hit insect-infested plants (especially leaf undersides) with a hard water spray early in day.
Divide crowded crinums and daylilies if they stop blooming. Observe nonblooming roses; they need 6-8 hours of sun per day. Remove spent crape myrtle flowers to prolong the bloom period. Try herbs, vegetables in hanging baskets.
Sprinkle earthworms over lawn and gardens. They work wonders!
AND, MY MOST FAVORITE PART . . .
DON’T DO TIPS FOR REALLY LAZY GARDENERS
Don’t prune azaleas, camellias, or any early spring bloomers, They’re setting next year’s flowers now. You might cut off next year’s blooms!
Don’t overwater bougainvillea, buddleia, durantas, hamelia, heather, lantana, portulaca, purslane or other drought-tolerant plants; they will stop blooming.
Don’t get upset if early spring bloomers fade. They may not be able to take the heat.
(* Lazy Gardener’s Guide, out of print, is available free as a PDF. lazygardenerbrenda@gmail.com.)
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Brenda Beust Smith’s column is based on her 40+ years
as Houston Chronicle’s Lazy Gardener Email: lazygardenerbrenda@gmail.com
— Note: This column’s gardening advice focuses ONLY on
the Greater Houston area. Personal reports MUST include your area.
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PLUMERIAS & RAIN — TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?
By LORETTA OSTEEN
Plumeria Society of America
With our recent deluge of rain, keep in mind that too much of a good thing; rain or over-watering your Plumeria can contribute to rot. Some more tips:
– Container grown Plumeria can benefit with well draining potting mix, which often includes amending with perlite.
– If you are planting Plumeria in the ground, it is a good idea to plant them in a raised bed, to help with drainage.
– Also known as ‘Flor de Mayo’, Plumeria typically will begin to bloom during the month of May.
I am anticipating beautiful blooms with their intoxicating fragrance throughout the Spring and Summer.
EDITOR’S NOTE::
These and many other plumerias can be found at the SAT., JUNE 10: PLUMERIA SOCIETY OF AMERICA SHOW AND SALE, 9am-1p. pm, Bay Area Community Center 5002 Nasa Road 1, Seabrook. Free. theplumeriasociety.org; 281-796-7185
Another good place to quiz Loretta about your plumeria will be at herSAT., JUNE 17: ”Plumeria Propagation” program, 1-3 pm, at Galveston County Master Gardener Discovery Garden in Carbide Park, 4102 Main Street (FM 519), La Marque. Must preregister: galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture/
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NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS # 240
With summer around the corner many of us have planted peppers in our gardens. A meta-analysis of the nutritional benefits of peppers found many reasons to grow and eat peppers. The study of 570,000 people were compared to those whom never eat peppers to those whom regularly eat a lot. Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2020).
Those whom ate a lot of peppers had:
26% reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease 23% reduced risk from dying from cancer
25% reduced risk from dying from any cause
Other studies have found that capsaicin which gives peppers the burn also reduced total cholesterol and triglycerides and was associated with improved aortic function.
Maybe this is why I love a good spicy guacamole salad, a chili con queso dip loaded with jalapenos or a good stuffed pepper.
A study published in the Journal Progress in Nutrition found that 81% of the women with breast cancer had low levels of vitamin-D. Another reason that getting out in the sun while gardening is good for our health.
An article in the publication Life Extension (2022) found that researchers studying populations of people over 90 years of age and especially those over 100 years of age had one thing in common. They had the highest levels of the trace element selenium (Se).
The reason selenium levels are connected to longevity is selenium is required for the proper function of cellular enzymes.
“Past studies have shown that selenium containing proteins provide defense against DNA damage, facilitate the removal of toxins from the body, support thyroid function, and maintain immune system activity.”
Another paper in the Journal of Clinical Investigations (2022) found that proper levels of the element lithium (Li) helped protect against kidney decline. Lithium has been shown to inhibit the production of enzymes harmful to the kidneys. Recently in other animal studies it was found that adequate amounts of lithium extended their lifespan.
Last year we looked at all the 79 elements (minerals) found in the human body. What they do for our health and for our gardens and soils.
www.natureswayresources.com/minerals.html
We found that artificial fertilizers only have 16 elements at best, and most only have 3 or 4 as compared to a good organic fertilizer that may have 50 or more.
Even though organic fertilizers have more elements than the artificial fertilizers, they may not be at high enough concentrations to provide maximum benefits.
This is another reason to use trace mineral supplements like Re-mineralizer when growing our fruits and vegetables and all our plants from turf grass to roses.
More and more studies showing the benefits of trace and micro nutrients (minerals) are being published every year.
Remember the old gardening proverb:
“Healthy soil = healthy plants = healthy people.”
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ABOUT US
BRENDA BEUST SMITH WE KNOW HER BEST AS THE LAZY GARDENER . . . but Brenda Beust Smith is also:
- a national award-winning writer & editor
- a nationally-published writer & photographer
- a national horticultural speaker
- a former Houston Chronicle reporter
When the Chronicle discontinued Brenda’s 45-year-old Lazy Gardener” print column — started in the early ’70s as a fun side-project to reporting, it then ranked as the longestrunning, continuously-published local newspaper column in the Greater Houston area. The name, she says, is not just fun, it’s true. Brenda’s gradual sideways step from reporter into gardening writing led first to an 18-year series of when-to-do-what Lazy Gardener Calendars, then to her Lazy Gardener’s Guide book which morphed into her Lazy Gardener’s Guide on CD, which she now emails free upon request. Brenda became a Harris County Master Gardener and, over the years, served on theboards of many Greater Houston area horticulture organizations. She hosted local radio and TV shows, most notably a 10+-year Lazy Gardener specialty shows on HoustonPBS (Ch. 8) and her call-in “EcoGardening” show on KPFT-FM. For over three decades, Brenda served as Assistant Production Manager of the GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA’S “BULLETIN” magazine. Although still an active broad-based freelance writer, Brenda’s main focus now is THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER with John Ferguson and Pablo Hernandez of Nature’s Way Resources. A native of New Orleans and graduate of St. Agnes Academy and the University of Houston, Brenda lives in Humble, TX, and is married to the retired Aldine High School Coach Bill Smith. They have one son, Blake. Regarding this newsletter, Brenda is the lead writer, originator of it and the daily inspiration for it. We so appreciate the way she has made gardening such a fun way to celebrate life together for such a long time.
JOHN FERGUSON John is a native Houstonian and has over 27 years of business experience. He owns Nature’s Way Resources, a composting company that specializes in high quality compost, mulch, and soil mixes. He holds a MS degree in Physics and Geology and is a licensed Soil Scientist in Texas. John has won many awards in horticulture and environmental issues. He represents the composting industry on the Houston-Galveston Area Council for solid waste. His personal garden has been featured in several horticultural books and “Better Homes and Gardens” magazine. His business has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal for the quality and value of their products. He is a member of the Physics Honor Society and many other professional societies. John is is the co-author of the book Organic Management for the Professional. For this newsletter, John contributes articles regularly and is responsible for publishing it.
PABLO HERNANDEZ Pablo Hernandez is the special projects coordinator for Nature’s Way Resources. His realm of responsibilities include: serving as a webmaster, IT support, technical problem solving/troubleshooting, metrics management and quality control. Pablo helps this newsletter happen from a technical support standpoint.
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