Early Spring Home Vegetable Gardening

A good thing about vegetable gardening in Texas is the ability to grow plants successfully in the fall, late winter, and spring. This compensates to some extent for the challenges of trying to grow a garden in the summer’s heat. When to plant cold weather crops depends on the Texas growing region where the garden is located. However all cold weather vegetables are planted before March 20 or 21‚Äîthe official beginning of spring.

How to Plant Cool Weather Vegetables in Texas

10 days before planting, clean out any residual dead plants or weeds and test the soil pH using pH testing strips. Cool weather vegetables prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil. East Texas soils tend to have a good pH value for gardening. However in the remainder of the State‚Äîwhere there is less rainfall‚Äîsoils tend to have a higher pH and are often alkaline. To reduce the soil’s pH, add elemental sulfur and organic matter.

Prepare the garden area where cold weather crops will be planted. If the soil is hard or crusty, gently till down about 2 inches and add compost. A small home electric tiller works well for this light job and does not go too deep which can disturb the soil’s basic structure. Dr. Jimmy Boudreaux, Extension Vegetable Specialist, recommends adding 5-7 pounds of 8-24-24 fertilizer per 100 feet of row for heavy feeders like broccoli and cabbage or 3-5 pounds of 8-24-24 per 100 feet of row for medium feeders.

Place paths between rows or small crop areas to facilitate weeding and harvesting without unduly compressing the soil around the roots of the vegetable plants.

When it is time to plant, make sure the garden tools are clean before coming into contact with the soil or plants. For transplant seedlings, dig a hole deep enough to place the plant at the same depth as it was in its container. Plant large seeds at a depth three times the longest dimension of the seed. Broadcast small seeds over the area being planted. Water-in the new plants and seeds.

When to Plant Cold Weather Vegetables in Texas

Texas climate and growing conditions vary considerably between the high plains of the Panhandle and the tropical Gulf Coast. However, the majority of the state by size and by population density are in Regions II and III.

Cool weather vegetables are planted in Region III at the beginning of February and two weeks later in Region II. Potatoes are planted two to three weeks later than other cool weather vegetables. Texas A&M Horticulture provides a complete planting guide for all Texas growing regions.

Enjoy the brief break in the Texas gardening schedule during December after harvesting the fall vegetables because it will be time to begin gardening again the middle of January.