Monday, March 20, 2023

Waco Postcards

 Here's a few fun postcards featuring Waco.
The first one is one I made with a photo I took!  
The rest are ones I found by other great artists on Zazzle.





Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Waco Garden Calendar: March

A picture of beets.  I got this picture from Pixabay, as I never grew beets in Waco.


Below you will find a list suggested plant dates for March!

March 23 is average date of the last spring from in Waco.  Instructions on seed packets will often say "plant after danger of frost." Well, ok, when is that? And how cold does it have to get for that frost to kill my plants?

Well, I looked it up and found that a frost of 29°F to 32°F will kill tender plants, but not damage most other plants. 25°F to 28°F is destructive to most vegetation, and frost 24°F and colder is REALLY BAD.  So check the weather this month when deciding how to protect your plants.


Direct Seed/Use Sets:

(Bolded means last month to plant these this season.)

Arugula (Mar 8-23)
Asparagus
Beans (snap and bush) (after March 5)
Beans, Lima (after March 15)
Beets (before Mar 30)
Cantaloupe (after March 15)
Cilantro***
Collards (before March 25)
Corn, sweet* (after March 23)
Green Beans (after March 30)
Lettuce
** (before March 15)
Mustard
Onion (through March 16)***
Parsley (through March 8)**
Parsnips (through March 23)
Peas, Southern (after March 25)
Potato*
Radishes*
Turnip**  (before March 15)
Squash (after March 5)
Watermelon* (after March 15)



Plant Inside To Transplant Later:
(I only bold  things in this section that can't be planted directly, and this is the last month to start indoors to transplant)

Pumpkin (before March 16)
Zucchini (before March 8)


Plant Seedlings or Transplants:
Basil (after March 23)
Broccoli (before March 16)
Cabbage (before March 8)
Cauliflower (before March 16)
Kale (before March 16)
Kohlrabi (March 1-8)
Oregano (after March 23)
Swiss Chard (March 1-8)
Pepper** (after March 30)
Thyme (after March 23)
Tomato** (after March 30)

*Guides differ on whether you can plant this month

**Some differences between sources on exact dates when to plant, but they all said you can plant sometime this month.

***The Central Texas Community Garden Manual says plant seeds indoors this month, and the other guides say wait until February or mid-March and plant directly.  I've put cilantro seeds out starting in January, so I think anytime in March you want to plant them is fine.  No need to wait.



SOURCES:
The Central Texas Community Garden Manual
Texas A&M planting guide

Farmer's Almanac planting guide for Waco

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Waco Garden Calendar: February

 

Carrots



Here's what to plant in February!  

Some notes from the The Central Texas Community Garden Manual.

"The earlier you plant in February, the less insect and disease problems you’re likely to have. "

But, since our last frost date isn't until March, there's some risk to it too.   Definitely wait to plant until temps rise above freezing (except for indoor planting). 


Direct Seed/Use Sets:
(Bolded means last month to plant these this season.)

Asparagus
Beets*
Corn****
Broccoli*
Cabbage*
Carrots**
Cilantro***
Collards
Corn, sweet - (after Feb 25)
Dill
Kohlrabi*
Lettuce*
Mustard
Onion (sets through Feb, seeds anytime)***
Parsley (after Feb 22)**
Peas (Feb 8-Mar 1)**
Potato (starting Feb 15)*
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Radishes**

Plant Inside To Transplant Later:
(I only bold things here that can't be planted directly, and this is the last month to start indoors)

Basil (before Feb 8)
Broccoli (before Feb 8)
Cabbage (before Feb 8)
Cantaloupes (after Feb 22)
Cauliflower**
Kale (before Feb 8)
Kohlrabi (Feb 8-22)
Leeks
Lettuce (Feb 8-22)
Oregano (before Feb 8)
Pak Choi
Pepper (Hot or Sweet)
Squash (starting Jan 16)
Sweet Potato (Feb 22 - Mar 1)
Swiss Chard (before Feb 22)
Tomatoes (before Feb 8)
Watermelons (Feb 22 - Mar 1)
Zucchini (after Feb 22)


Plant Seedlings or Transplants:
Broccoli (after Feb 22)
Cabbage (after Feb 22)
Cauliflower (after Feb 22)
Kale (after Feb 22)

*Guides differ on whether you can plant this month

**Some differences between sources on exact dates when to plant, but they all said you can plant sometime this month.

***The Central Texas Community Garden Manual  has different directions than others for this month.  It says plant seeds indoors this month, and the other guides say wait until February and March and plant directly.  I've put Cilantro seeds out January through spring, and  onion sets straight outside in January before and they did fine.  It says early February is a great time to plant corn, and to  make sure to  apply fertilizers high in nitrogen to encourage growth.




SOURCES:
The Central Texas Community Garden Manual
Texas A&M planting guide

Farmer's Almanac planting guide for Waco

Sunday, January 1, 2023

Waco Garden Calendar: January


 
January may not seem like a great time for gardening, but there's actually somethings you can plant outdoors now, and a lot you can get started indoors.  

Direct Seed Or Use Sets:
(Bolded means last month to plant these this season.)

Carrots (after Jan 15)*
Peas (until the 15th)
Cilantro**
Radishes (after Jan 25)
Spinach
Onion (sets only - after Jan 15)**

Plant Inside To Transplant Later:
(Bolded means last month to plant these inside to transplant this season.)
Basil
Bell Peppers (before 25th)
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery (after Jan 11)
Eggplant (after Jan 11)
Kale
Leeks
Lettuce (Head, not Leaf)
Onion (sets)***
Oregano (after Jan 11)
Pak Choi
Pepper (Hot or Sweet)
Rosemary (after Jan 11)
Swiss Chard (probably late January)*
Squash (starting Jan 16)
Tomatoes (after Jan 25)


*Sources differ on when to plant these.   Some say wait until February.  

**None of the garden guides list Jan as a time you can plant Cilantro...but I've had it sprout in Jan before. And I've heard of people up north overwintering these in the snow, so it's not likely a frost would kill it.  Plus, getting this in early means you might actually get enough to use before it gets warm and bolts.  They can be tucked between items that are slower growers.

***The Central Texas Community Garden Manual says plant seeds indoors this month, and the other guides say wait until February and March and plant directly.  I've put out onion sets straight outside in January before and they did fine. 



SOURCES:
The Central Texas Community Garden Manual
Texas A&M planting guide
Farmer's Almanac planting guide for Waco
Month By Month Gardening In Texas*


*DISCLOSURE:  This is an Amazon affiliate link through which I can earn commission.

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Waco Planting Calendar: June



Asparagus...that's all you can plant in your vegetable garden this month, if you want to.   It's the last month to attempt it.

Just keep everything well watered and enjoy your air conditioning!


(This planting calendar only covers when to plant vegetables and herbs (seeds and sets).