April 14 , 2025
Homegrown Citrus, Summer Vegetables, Cowboy Pool: New Episode
There ’s something delightfully resistless about plucking orange or lemons right from our own little tree diagram . Not so long ago we were zone pushing to even think about growing citrus in Central Texas , but now we can grow some varieties in the ground , at least until extreme freeze crystallizes our crop . Still , patio citrus claims top spot on our patios , balcony , and decks , since all we need is sunshine and a large container . So , we ’re thrilled to receive Mary Kay Pope , plantsman and Certified Arborist fromBackbone Valley Nurseryin Marble Falls ! She joins John Hart to step us through diverseness and culture . kin - have Backbone Valley open in 1999 and is the prominent grower of Texas wad laurels in Texas . I ’m a super sports fan ofMary Kay ’s newsy blogwhere I foot up endless tips , clue , and fact that are so on target with what ’s on our judgment . Her favorite citrus plants to grow in the ground are Satsuma mandarin oranges , tangerines , and calamondins . Along with winter lows , microclimate wallop citrus cold robustness . Warmth from Confederate States - facing wall and protection from wind can help . Also , if we get an early restrained tang , that may help plants confirm more serious cold , Mary Kay tells us . We may still get damage , but the plant wo n’t be kill if we have protect the solution and trunk ( she excuse how to do this ) . Sometimes , we recede them anyway . My satsuma break down through many cold winters before Storm Uri peg it . Meyer lemons can be ground - sturdy for years until they get zap . Limes perfectly are not inhuman hardy , so must be grown in containers and give winter protection . Indoors or out , their fragrant blossom are swoon worthy!Mary Kay recommend double potting : keep the plant in its charge plate pot and rapier into a decorative container . Ditto for when it ’s clock time to pot up . It ’s easier to bring the lightweight container inwardly for wintertime , plus , it ’s easier to separate if it needs watering . Lift up the glasshouse pot , and if it ’s scant , it ’s time to water . Also : when potting up , only go up another 4 - 6 ” . This rule use to most plants . exposure courtesy of Backbone Valley . fecundate with a 2 - 1 - 2 or interchangeable ratio with micronutrients three times:-Emergence of new development - Fruit bent - September or October
For more point , check out Mary Kay’scitrus growing blogand another oncommon citrus trouble . Now that the stain is warm up , it ’s fourth dimension to plant former spring and summer vegetables . Anamaria Gutierrez , garden manager ofEste GardenandNixta Tacqueria , clean a few of her top hot weather performing artist . She ’s a super fan of yardlong beans , Suyo Long and Striped Armenian cucumbers , ‘ Magda ’ squash ( less problem with squash vine borers for her ) , and infatigable okra . Those lovely okra flowers are edible , too!Just bring flush for lot of pollinator . Zinnias and cosmos are easy from seed . And since hot weather condition lovers still care a sun interruption to avoiding scalding , regard shade cloth , like in Anamaria ’s photo . you may also suspend it on MT - posts . Here ’s Travis County Extension ’s planting calendar , or fit with your Extension function . Two long time ago , we stopped by Este for tips on summer craw . Plus , former fellow farmer Lea Scott depict how to weave rambunctious indeterminate tomatoes and peppers . And , she show how to clone Lycopersicon esculentum stems from cuttings in July for spill harvest !
And for the future , here ’s ourearly downfall visit to Esteto see how to start nerveless weather harvest while tomatoes and Piper nigrum are still bring out . Daphne answers Al Seen ’s query about this legal injury on gamboge trees the past two years . “ This is a classic symptom of fruit scarring created by birds beak while the fruit is young and the tegument is just starting to formulate , ” she tells us . And Jason Lantz was lucky enough to blemish these gnarly - look caterpillars on his lime tree diagram . They ’re the larva of Giant Swallowtail coquette that repose their egg alone on citrus fruit trees . And it ’s sure no surprise why they are unremarkably called the “ bird poop ” caterpillars .
On go , Kat and Dave Sherby fall for a great pace that beckon creative brainstorming for wildlife watching . First , they tackled rainwater runoff and lawn reduction to make way for food and flower garden . Then come rain collection , compost - qualification , a keyhole garden and relaxing spots to hang out and enjoy it all .
Thanks for hold back by ! Next hebdomad , learn about native bee and their pollinator buddies with Dr. Sean Griffin from the Wildflower Center .
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