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Gardening Activities March

                                         March Dates to Remember
 
Estimated Last Spring Frost Date – March 21, 2020 (variable +/- 7 days)
Daylight Savings Begins – March 8, 2020
1st Day of Spring – March 19, 2020 (Equinox when day/night is equal)
“Super Moons 2020”:  March 9 & April 8 for your viewing pleasure  
 
                                              March Planting Guide
 
Note:  Spring is projected to arrive early with warmer and drier weather than “normal” according to long range forecast.
 
Vegetables:  green beans, lima beans (when soil is warm), beets (last call – early March), Swiss chard, corn, cucumbers, cantaloupe, eggplant (T), warm season greens, mustard, radish, southern peas, peppers (T), summer & winter squash, tomatoes (T), turnip, watermelon.  (From seed unless noted with T for transplant). 
 
Tomato Tips – Large fruited “determinate varieties” crop over a short period of time before summer heat shuts down production.  If you have room also plant smaller fruited “indeterminate varieties” that continue to produce over a longer period of time and tolerate higher night temperatures. 
 
Blossom End Rot (BER) is caused when soil moisture goes from saturated to dry preventing calcium from reaching the tip end of the developing fruit.  This results in obvious rotting of the fruit as it ripens.  Soil pH and soil temperature also play a part in calcium availability.  Plant tomatoes when soil warms, maintain even soil moisture, mulch root zone to retain moisture and don’t overuse nitrogen fertilizer.  Please note BER may also affect peppers and eggplants.  
 
For more information on growing vegetables consult the following references:
 
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable
 
(English & Spanish versions)
          Easy Gardening Fact Sheets – concise overview for the home gardener
          Commercial Production Guides – more in-depth information, a must read
 
Flowering Plants: ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, bachelor’s button, basil, blue daze, angel trumpet, celosia, coreopsis, cornflower, cosmos, daisy, geranium,  echinacea, feverfew, gaillardia, hollyhock, larkspur, nasturtium, drummondii phlox, California poppy, queen anne’s lace, petunia, pentas just to name a few along with cosmos, nicotiana, four o’clocks, marigold, stock, and verbena.  The choices are endless!  Use them as “eye candy” in garden beds and cut flowers in arrangements. 

Herbs:  Rather than a long list of herbs I’ll share several references for your viewing pleasure.  Herbs fill so many niches in our garden, culinary uses in the kitchen, crafts too many to mention, AND they attract beneficial insects – what more can you ask for!  We’ll have a good selection at our Plant Sale March 28th.  
 
Herbs for the Texas Landscape
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/files/2013/09/EHT094.pdf
Growing Herbs in Texas
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/organic/files/2011/03/E-561_growing_herbs_texas.pdf
 
Garden Bulbs, Corms & Tubers:  For starters purchase quality bulbs from reputable suppliers.  Spring planted bulbs include – Amarcrinum, canna, crocosmia (can be invasive), elephant ear, society garlic, gayfeather, butterfly ginger, gladiolus, crinum, Madonna lily, oxblood lily, spider lily, and Mexican tuberose.  Tip:  Place your order early before seasonal varieties sell out especially heirloom Texas or Louisiana grown bulbs.   On-Line Sources:  Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, Old House Gardens & Southern Bulb Company.
 
 
                                         March Garden Activities
                                     
Gonzales County is in a drought which means homeowners need to water landscape plants, especially newly planted trees and shrubs to keep the root ball from drying out.  Provide 1” of water every 2 weeks to St. Augustine lawns to keep grass alive (it doesn’t go dormant), more often if on thin soils less than 6” in depth.  Fertilize lawn after grass is actively growing. For more information on Lawn Care see:  http://austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Watershed/growgreen/factsheets/Lawncare.pdf 
 
Vegetable gardens need 1” water per week or enough to keep soil evenly moist.  Vegetable transplants may need water daily for 7-10 days until established especially during windy, warm to hot conditions.  Seeded veggies and flowers need moist soil during the germination process, monitor conditions for best outcome.  Be prepared to protect all in case another cold snap arrives.  By April 1st we should be well past any chance of cold weather. 
 
Time of remove dead material from perennials, trees and shrubs plus prune as needed after spring growth makes an appearance.  Fertilize, add mulch and compost as needed.                                                         
Picture
What’s Bugging You?  Warm weather signals the arrival of insects, many of which are beneficial or cause no trouble at all.  Among the landscape/vegetable garden trouble makers are aphids, leaf-footed bugs, stink bugs, thrips, sharpshooters, cut worms, cabbage loppers, saltmarsh caterpillars, white flies, fire ants, cucumber beetles and flea beetles.  In any case don’t assume the insect you see is the one causing the damage.  Some don’t come out until nighttime – identify the insect BEFORE using an insecticide and do start with the “least toxic” approach first.  Inspect plants, look at the underside of the leaves for egg masses and newly hatched insects (which may not look at all like adults).  Don’t kill the good guys!  
 
 
References to help identify insects:
https://www.insectidentification.org/insects-by-state.asp?thisState=Texas
Books:  The Texas Bug Book, Field Guide to Common Insects of Texas, and Insects of Texas a Practical Guide. ​