Texas Gardening: New to Houston Gardening - Looking to Learn , 1 by madrid2000

madrid2000 wrote:
I am new to gardening in Houston too. The first year I was busy having a baby, but I did manage to stick a few tomato plants and peppers in the ground. I planted the tomatoes too late I guess for a lot of summer tomatoes, but I got a bumper fall crop (morning sun, afternoon shade and they didn't die in the summer.) I picked the green ones before the last frost and had tomatoes at Christmas. The pepper plants survived the winter with a little mulch and have already given me a few peppers.

I have learned that it isn’t enough to set seedlings outside on warm days and on the windowsill on cold days. Next year I will buy florescent lights. The 2 inch peppers on the bottom left are the ones I grew. The ones on the top left are the ones I had to buy from the store.

I also decided that the next time I make a raised bed, I will use the Lasagna method or use a mix with peat moss. This year I used only $1 bags of composted manure from Lowe’s and my plants look sick. The squash leaves have yellow around the outside. The zucchini has milky spots, and one of the peppers is starting to turn yellow and brown.

My learning curve has improved dramatically since joining Dave’s garden. I dream of one day collecting my own open pollinated seeds and eating the tastiest of vegetables.

I have rust and fire ant problems, but that is a whole different story.
Tabitha