Garden shows this weekend and next, think about planting

The Hill Country Lawn and Garden Show will be going on Saturday, March 25, from  9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Burnet Community Center, 401 East Jackson Street.

Demonstration, many vendors, kids’ corner, many plants, native and garden, plus supplies will be featured. For more information call Irene Dauphin 254-498-6009 or to be a vendor Roxanne Dunegan 512-756-9396.

The Llano Master Gardener Lawn and Garden Show follows on  Saturday, April 1, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the St. James Lutheran Church 1401 Ford Street in Llano. Plants, prize drawings and programs are on the agenda.

Asparagus!!

March is a full month in the garden. Are you ready to plant those asparagus crowns? Dig a hole that is 12” deep for the open pollinated asparagus and 6” deep for one of the Jersey bunch. Put about 1” inch of compost in the hole and toss in a banana peel or two (K=potassium=banana peel). Set the crowns approximately 18” apart with rows 4” apart. Disinfect the newly purchased roots by soaking them in a solution of 1 cup regular bleach to 1 gallon of warm water for 3-4 hours before planting. (This soak also help open their pores.) Put one crown in each hole, spread out the roots, and cover with 2” soil. As it grows, gradually fill up the hole, but don’t cover any foliage. Give your plants 1 to 2 inches of water each week until they become established. After that, don’t bother watering them until drought-like conditions occur.

Start planting

Vegetables: Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Peppers. When planting Pumpkin, Squash and Watermelon, make sure to leave room for them to wonder.

Herbs: Basil, Bay, Caraway, Catnip, chives, Cumin(o), Fennel, Scented Geranium, Horseradish, Lamb’s Ear, Lavender, Lemon Grass, Lemon Verbena, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Summer Savory, Tarragon, and Thyme.

Let’s Build Raised Beds

Why raised beds you might ask? Here in the Hill country our soils are primarily very alkaline: 8+ on the scale. Raised bed gardening allows us to grow those plants that prefer an acidic pH by creating a proper environment. Raised beds also allow us to garden just about anywhere. They also permit us to keep our garden and flower beds closer to home or in a convenient location for us. And yes, painting the outside for a color theme is fun and vibrant.

When deciding what dimensions, you want to use, make sure that you can reach the center from the edge. (Another lesson we learned the hard way. Now you don’t have to.) With a 2” x 10” x 8’ (redwood, cedar or treated lumber) you can make several variations: 4’ x 8’, 2’x6’, 4’x4’ or a 2’x2’: 1) For a 4’ x 8’, use three boards and cut one in half for the sides. 2) Two boards will build a 2’ x 6’. Cut 2’ off of the 8’ for the 6’, the remaining 2’ work wonderfully for the sides. 3) For a 4’ x 4’ cut two boards in half. 4) And if you would like to put small raised beds around your yard perhaps a color theme in each, one board cut into fourths provides a 2’ x 2’ bed.

The 4’ x 8’ works wonderfully for vegetable gardens, the 2’ x 6’ giant sunflowers, 4’ x 4’ wildflowers to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, 2’ x 2’ to simply make everything pretty.

This soil recipe courtesy of John Dromgoole, The Natural Gardener, works wonderfully: 60 percent top soil, 30 percent manure compost, 10 percent granite gravel for the bottom layer (¼ minus size of gravel) = 100 percent Excellent soil.

Hummingbirds are HERE

Hummers are HERE!! Put your feeders out. Personally, we use 4:1 water:sugar ratio. Please no food coloring or dye. And please use real sugar. Grandmother thought she would help the birds not gain weight by using saccharine. She couldn’t figure out why the birds kept going to the neighbor’s feeders instead of hers. Once she started using real sugar she enjoyed our fine feathered friends as well

“I’d grow my own food if I could only find bacon seeds” ...anonymous. Since we don’t have bacon seeds yet...

Keep your souls and soles in your garden!
Remember the True Master Gardener: Jesus said, “I am the vine; my Father is the Gardener.” John 15:1
Have questions or comments? Contact Bill at The Luedecke Group Realtors 512-577-1463 or email bill@texasland.net. Or contact Martelle Luedecke 512-769-3179 at luedeckephotography@gmail.com