I just finished a new raised bed (5' x 16' x 16") and would like to plant veggies. It getting late for my zone - maybe corn and melons planted together or southern cream peas or sweet potatoes.
Any of you Southern farmers got any ideas for me?
Jerry
I think you may be just a little late on the corn. You'd be in good shape on the sweet potatoes (from slips I assume) or cream peas. The sweet potato vines will really take off and cover a large area. Here's a link to a vegetable planting guide for Central Texas on the A&M Horticulture site:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/docs/VegetablePlantingCalendar2009.pdf
It can help out on planning. They really have a lot of good information on that site from my experience in East Tx. Your bed looks good.
Kevin
Why would it be too late?
I am guessing that you will be able to water your bed, in case things get tight/dry the first 6 weeks. You still have plenty of Summer to get a crop of sweet corn.
I plant three successesions of sweet corn in my 7b garden : Week 2 April, Week 1 May, Week 4 May and all are always good crops.
I would do it. But, I'll do anything in the garden...
I am new to gardening, and I don't follow rules well. So I planted corn last week, even though I was told not too. So I would say go for it and see what happens you never know.
I read over in the Texas forum that you should plant corn on Good Friday, then every Friday for the next couple of weeks. It might be too late, but you could always go ahead and plant some and see if you get anything.
jajtiii,
During July and August, we have sustained daytime temperatures of 85-100 and overnight temperatures rarely dip below 70. Most vegetable plants are extremely stressed during this time, pollen clumps due to high humidity, or denatures due to the heat.
In Richmond, Virginia, I would presume that crops have a 2-3 week period where they suffer a bit and mope in the hottest days, and then they bounce back.
In S.E. Texas, after 2 months of being in that oven, most vegetable plants are toast.
Last summer I planted sweet corn in two 3' x 3' containers. Planted in April, June, and in August. The August planting was about 2 feet tall and doing fine and then came Hurricane Ike 9-13....enough said. I watered daily and had a good crop..two ears on a majority of stalks. Variety was Maple Sugar from Burpee. I think you'll be fine.
Becky
Texasrock,
I asked the same question of Farmerdill last year and he said that they plant corn in his area through August. I figure you can plant in the heat as long as there is water and time for the corn to reach maturity before frost. Sweet corn apparently doesn't mind the heat. I'm planning on putting in more corn at the end of June when I pull the first planting from late March (it's just beginning to tassle now). I planted late corn last year, and other than the ear worms, I didn't have any problems.
David
Heat does ( successive days in excess of 10 degrees) affect sweet corn during the pollination stage. It is worth taking a chance as the heat waves are not consistant. but late July and early August we don't get a lot of fresh corn. Before and after it is fine.
Melons, sweet taters & okra. None should object to these temps for the summer.
