When and What To Start Planting - Seeking Subtropical Gardening Advice

[Guest guest]

Well, with it being so warm (75 right now), I'd like to get plating

already *lol* Its supposed to cool down to the 50's and 60's starting

tomorrow, but that is still warm enough for me to plant some stuff,

isn't it?

 

So, I am asking those who more experienced with gardening in a

subtropical environment - what is the right stuff to start planting now?

 

I was thinking maybe things in the Onion family? Garlic? Beets? Parsley?

But I'm really not sure ...

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom - used to that April last frost date when I was back in

NYC and the mid May last frost date when I was in Denver)

 

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

" subtropical " LOL!

 

Chris, I don't know that much about planting in Houston, but here in the

Hill Country, we have to be careful about getting tooooooo excited about

planting in January ... it may snow in February and there will be a freeze

in March. However, my friend in MT has been trying to get her garlic plants

out for a couple of weeks now. (hi, Kate ... waving) Onions should be good

to go now.

 

My seed catalog says you're in Zone 9 while I'm in Zone 8 ... best bet is to

check with a LOCALLY-OWNED nursery that's been around forever. They'll know

what to get started with.

 

My current outdoor project ... picking up all the pine cones. UGH!!!

 

Linda Wallen

Village Treasures

ljwallen

 

" Leave room in your garden for the angels to dance. "

[Guest guest]

At 10:58 AM 1/4/2004 -0600, you wrote:

>Well, with it being so warm (75 right now), I'd like to get plating

>already *lol* Its supposed to cool down to the 50's and 60's starting

>tomorrow, but that is still warm enough for me to plant some stuff,

>isn't it?

 

You can plant a lot now, just make sure you have sheets and plastic to

cover the seedlings if the temps drop. You can start stuff in flats and

have little plastic tents for them, too. Just make sure to open the tents

in the morning, or they'll cook.

 

>So, I am asking those who more experienced with gardening in a

>subtropical environment - what is the right stuff to start planting now?

 

There's subtropical and there's subtropical. That said, your best bet is to

call your local USDA CO-OP extension agent tomorrow and then visit their

office. They'll give you some pointers over the phone, but collect all the

pamphlets and info sheets from them that you can. Not only will it give you

a gardening calendar, but it will tell you what varieties are best for your

area. The collards that thrive here in Florida might not do so well in

Texas....

 

>I was thinking maybe things in the Onion family? Garlic? Beets? Parsley?

>But I'm really not sure ...

 

Garlic is usually planted in the fall, and harvested in the spring, so it

may be too late for that. I'm still planting onion bulbs, but I usually

wind up using them all as scallions!

 

Radishes, lettuces, greens, etc., will probably do well now. Don't forget

flowers, like nastursiums and calendulas. They are doing beautifully in my

garden now, but come late March, the heat and humidity will kill them with

fungus. Bet that time of year was when you planted them in Colorado!

 

Are there tomato seedlings in the stores? Try them, but be prepared to

shelter them if you get cold nights. Ditto with peppers. My cabbages and

collards are magnificent now, and I don't have to worry about them with the

cold.

 

You can visit my Plants page and click on the garden calendar I have for

South Florida. It can be a *rough* guide for you, but you need to fine tune

your garden to Texas.

http://member.newsguy.com/~herblady