September 8 , 2016
Fall into Winter Vegetables, Crockett HS Gardeners
Along my front porch pavement , firecracker fern ( Russelia equisetiformis ) keeps cranking out flames for especially energetic hummingbirds fueling up . In back , ail chive ’ starry flush run to the bees . But I overleap my variegated Cuban oregano , here with pot patio black pepper ( a delectable combo ! ) . Although I protected its container in winter , one harsh year I lose it anyway . This time , I ’ll keep it in a sunny windowpane until outpouring . At theTravis County Extension demonstration gardens , it strikes a delicious direct contrast against other stratified herb . In the dry land , consider it a warm weather condition one-year , like Basil the Great . Daphne tells us that its name derives from the fact that it ’s commonly used in Cuban cooking , not from its native habitat , India . Find out more about Cuban oregano .
Recently , I stopped by the John Gaines Park at Mueller to check out thenew community gardens . As red-hot as it ’s been , it looked mighty fine , with huge yield and lots of bees admire the flower . Although temperature have cool down a fleck , the soil is still skillful and toasty . While we ’re eye those tantalizing fall vegetable seeds , Jeff Ferris fromThe Natural Gardenerreminds us that come ca n’t scan planting usher ( at least without glasses).Seeds are smart , though , and come or spring , they ’ll only germinate when the grime is right . To spare the shot plot , Jeff picks your # 1 tool : an cheap soil thermometer . When I arrive mine a few years ago , I was astonished at how hot the soil was , even though it was “ cool ” outdoors . And soil does n’t squirm if you take its temperature !
Find out more , let in the conflict between “ bolt ” and “ clitoris , ” which happens even in hot autumns .
Joining Tom this week , Travis County Master Gardener Patty LeanderandJay Whiteteam up to show how to cool things down and prep the gloam vegetable garden . Get their take on tilling , fertilizing , favorite wintertime crops , and how to shade them during hot fall day . I wish Patty ’s recycle bamboo contend idea!This summer , Lydia Klein Kendrick showed me her thaumaturgy with an old windowpane screen and office clinch . learn out Jay White ’s site , The Masters of Horticulture , an unbelievable resource where he personably taps into timing , booby trap , and elated harvests of food and peak .
Watch our videoof Jay & Sally ’s charming potager in Brenham . Get the Travis County Master Gardener planting guidebook and moreright here .
On spell , Crockett High School student get lots of lettuce — and environmental science lessons — in the aquaponics system and greenhouse . Duane Lardon , Construction Technology teacher , work on with students like Craig Rose who maintain the system and care for the fish . It ’s a team effort , including Marshall Hester , instructor of aquatic science , the art class , and garden club . Duane ’s students build it all . It all go when Science Department teacher Christine de la Torre earn that many students did n’t love how intellectual nourishment grows . With Cary Grant ( and stones donated by AISD ) , the technology team and garden club built the garden . To their surprise , when the cafeteria serve up kale poker chip from their harvesting , students chowed them down tight . Here are a few of the sorcerous senior from Construction Technology , who work as a team on every expression of the design and build . Gilberto Sandoval ( in orange ) brought out his guitar and played the background euphony for this section . From left to right : Jesus Olivares , Gilberto Sandoval , Richard Menchaca , Jose Leyva Rosaldo , Diego Lopez . The Garden Club team instruct us so much ! I never see how to parboil Apium graveolens dulce , but now I do!They’re sitting on one of the picnic bench that the Construction Tech team builds for the school and also sells to the public to help pay for the garden . From left to right wing : Crystal Guido , Jannatul Mawa , DianaJoyce Ojeda , Alma Romero . I especially thank scholarly person DianaJoyce Ojeda for her supporter on my script and to Crystal Guido ( on the Construction Tech squad , too ) for her avail .
Their sustainable future ( and ours ) is in good hands with these untried leader ! Watch their floor now .
Finally , we were thrilled to host Linda Gurasich , the winner from our June competition , and her fellowHays County Master Gardeners . I ’m delighted to have these raw consultants , who already are steer me to majuscule gardens and experts . Thanks for stopping by and see you next week ! Linda
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