Author Archives: katherine.whitney
Soil Temperature
One trick to successful gardening in Texas, especially vegetable crops, is knowing when to plant. Checking the signs of the moon and trying to predict the last frost in Texas is a fun mental challenge, but it might not be very predictable. Soil temperature is the most important factor to consider for good seed germination and seedling growth. Soil temperature for vegetable seed growth is classified into four categories: the minimum temperature for seed growth; the optimum temperature; a realistic temperature; and the maximum temperature for germination to… Read More →
Winter Greens
Gardening in Texas has its challenges, but I think vegetable gardening throughout the winter makes up for the other difficulties we face (remind me I said that when I get tired of mowing in the August heat). A fresh salad of homegrown lettuce, spinach, and other greens is a delight in the middle of January or February!
Polyphemus Moth
One of my favorite parts of being a County Extension Agent is that every day is different! Sometimes I’m out with vegetable farmers talking about weed control. Another day I might be talking about lawncare with homeowners in Sun City or visiting with a classroom of cute kiddos about growing a garden. It’s fun! On November 13, 2019, we had an interesting visitor at the office. A Williamson County resident brought in a big green caterpillar that she found eating on her tree. She was concerned about the… Read More →
Winter Weed Control
It’s that time of year when weed control is on my mind. Winter weeds like henbit and clover are actively growing and making a nuisance of themselves. Just when you start to think you can take a break from lawn care for a couple months, all these pesky winter weeds start showing up. We have some options to control winter weeds that are already up and growing. Fortunately, some of these control options will also help you stick to your fitness goals for the new year! One option… Read More →
Nandina
Nandina is an old-fashioned evergreen shrub that has become one of my favorite shrubs. The foliage is dark green, but can turn orange, red, or maroon in the fall with bright red berries in the winter. Also known as Heavenly Bamboo for its slender stems and spreading growth pattern, Nandina domestica is drought tolerant and cold hardy. Nandina is also great because it can grow in sun, part shade, and shade.
Blooming Christmas Plants
When the days are short and many plants are dormant during this time of year, I am always drawn to anything is green or blooming. I love putting out fresh greenery and poinsettias, but there are two other winter-blooming plants that are eye-catching at Christmas and will continue growing throughout the year.
Christmas Trees
I am a little bit of a traditionalist when it comes to decorating for Christmas. I like a real Christmas tree, and you aren’t supposed to start decorating until December 1 (or at least until after Thanksgiving). Controversial holiday decorating opinions aside, hopping for a live Christmas tree is so much fun! I have a few pro tips for keeping your tree fresh throughout the Christmas season. Selection: Christmas trees come in a variety of sizes, so be sure to measure your space where the tree will be… Read More →
Freeze Protection
One of the biggest challenges to Texas gardeners in the fall is the quick temperature swings that can catch even the most diligent weather-watchers off guard. Last week we had a beautiful warm morning and freezing temperatures by evening. I confess that I lost a potted plant to that freeze because I didn’t get it inside fast enough. Oops! Have you ever wondered what happens to a plant when it freezes or why some plants can handle freezing temperatures better than others? We can do a lot to… Read More →
