PLOW & HOSE Gardening in Central Texas: Recent Episodes
Julie Rydell
Plow & Hose is a show dedicated to joys and challenges of organic backyard gardening in Central Texas. Learn organic gardening and earth friendly practices while getting seasonal planting information specific to Central Texas.
This summer has been brutal. Pretty much no rainfall since May, July was irrationally hot and August continues to be RUDE with its heat. But Julie is hopeful for a fall garden with a modest tomato harvest. The star of the summer is the Retama tree that popped up in her yard this spring. With absolute no care or attention, the retama is blooming and proves to be a winner for a xeric landscape.
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No surprise, it's hot & gross. What's not dead is struggling, including the cucumbers which are growing weird and some times bitter. Yuck. In better news, Julie bought new plants while out of town and they are so freaking cute--Fame Flowers.
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It's so hot, Julie invented a new weather term. "It's an irrational heat." It's hot and people are talking about xeriscaping...How to heat-proof your garden as best you can--plus ideas for improving watering habits + xeric landscaping garden design (a reminder of what it is and isn't) Enjoy!
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The weather finally matches the season! The cold and damp and dark days have Julie rethinking things, but she's excited about harvesting sweet potatoes, planting onions and she really, REALLY, wants you to keep leaves out of the landfill. SPONSOR OFFER Save 15% on COVER CROP SEEDS at TrueLeafMarket.com using promo code PH15. Offer expires 12.31.22 Some restrictions apply.
Feels like spring, sort of. But backwards. Crispy lawn. Struggling garden beds. But optimism returns with thought of fall foliage and planting during Central Texas' best planting season--FALL. Link below for website mentioned. (Oh god, that parakeet...so loud today...) http://texastreeid.tamu.edu SPONSOR OFFER Save 15% on COVER CROP SEEDS at TrueLeafMarket.com using promo code PH15. Offer expires 12.31.22 Some restrictions apply.
A return of sane weather. So nice. Just in time to plant wildflower seeds for spring blossoms. I'm talking bluebonnets, etc. Grow flowers instead of stupid lawns. Guess which team I'm on...LOLOLOLOLOL
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HAPPY FALL!!! PSYCHE! We don't get a real fall in Central Texas! But the recent drop in temperatures and a bit of rain stimulated a nice late summer flush of crape myrtle & lantana blossoms. Perfect timing for migrating butterflies and hummingbirds.
Uh, Julie left work early, went to the garden center, bought some plants. A lot of broccoli, actually--too much, considering things. Out in the garden, discovered root-knot nematodes--the remedy might be actually be in the flat of broc. SERENDIPITY??? Miracle from the Universe?! She don't know. Why would she know?! But there's some biology that justifies the purchase, even if that came after the fact.
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Recent rains cooled things off and things are mostly improving in Taylor, Texas. Temperatures are refreshingly back to regular late summer hot! The rain seemed to revitalize things in Julie's yard--new growth and a return of old pests--cactus bugs and fire ants. These and other grievances seemingly vaporized with the return of the oxblood lilies, leaving Julie elated and borderline delirious.
It's been a little more than 2 years on the air at KBSR for Plow & Hose & this episode marks the 100th radio show! Send Julie an email at hello@plowandhose.com and she'll put your name in for a drawing for a prize--three names will be drawn on Sunday Sept. 11th. Yay!
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Ugh. Literally sick, and tired of all this stupid heat. What to do about it...well make some compost tea and hope for the best and plant a fall garden. Tatume squash is a good, dual purpose squash to try. Plus a short trip to San Antonio with a fun excursion to the quirky Japanese Tea Garden.
Did you know it's hot? Yes, it's hot. It's freakin hot. So hot. Time for us to make better plant choices and adopt better watering habits. Julie talks about mallows & efficient watering, but kinda takes her time. Because it's hot and she's like that. Will it ever end? (The heat? The rambling? It's relentless!)
It's July. Hot. Dry. Meh. But Julie's cucumbers are looking good even if the tomatoes don't. That's fine--time to think about fall tomatoes anyway. PLUS she talks about hydroponics again.
A trip out of town spurs a whole show about TERRARIUMS! And Julie dips her toe in to the fantastic pool of hydroponics
Too hot to type. Reiterating: It's hot. I'm over it. Protect with shade/plant heat loving plants +Okinawa Spinach & Okinawa Pink Okra
Julie's been busy planting--at home, at work--and constructing structures to support plants, attract bats and touch the sky! Kind of ridiculous, actually. But so what?!
In an inspired move to rehome seedlings, Julie takes tomato plants to work. Segue to simulating insect pollination then big ol' discussion on mysterious rain sensitive plants like rain lilies & Texas sage. (Julie's really excited this week--It's MAY! YAY!)
Julie is all over the place this week. What's happening in your yards? Gorgeous iris. Ducks. Too much time talking about gourds (Hey weirdo--nice gourds) AND ANNUAL RANT ON SQUASH VINE BORERS!
A show inspired by the full moon and easter. It's Easter. It's a full moon. It's the Pink Moon. It's not even pink, but whatever. Julie walks around in the dark under the Pink Moon, thinks about a lot of stuff like gardening by the moon and focuses on phlox, MOONFLOWERS & Easter lilies.
Sweet potato planting window is April through the end of June--Julie explains how to start sweet potato slips. Also all about Orange Paintbrush wildflowers, plus dealing with insects in the strawberries. Near the end of the episode, she talks about activating your compost pile with horticultural molasses.
Woohoo! The bluebonnets are blooming! Everything is getting green and colorful. This show includes chit chat about bluebonnets, blue eyed grass, primroses, spiderwort plus basic organic pest control!
Ooo...Texas Mountain Laurel--gorgeous flowers & heady, sweetness. Plus what the cuss is going on with the oak trees dropping leaves?!
Yay! Julie is super excited for Spring--she's so happy for the warmer, sunnier days and she's rather enthusiastic about ornamental redbuds, white cemetery iris and gets a little nerdy about xeric landscaping. Oops.
Julie wonders if Spring will ever come to Central Texas, discusses advantages of in-ground & above ground gardening, gives the ratio for raised bed mix for Central Texas and then closes the show with a spotlight on cilantro and oregano!
Central Texas has finally passed the Last Average Frost Date--with cautious optimism WE CAN PLANT OUR GARDENS!!! Also, it's time to prune fruit trees and the last segment of the show Julie highlights jujube trees. Heck yeah.
Julie is not patient. She's sick of this cold, damp, dumb weather. This week's episode focuses on the very, very basics of HOUSEPLANTS. Part 1.
We are soooo close to warmer spring days--let's get ready. Let's plant one last round of cold season crops outside, but also start lots more inside. It's time to plant Irish Potatoes in Central Texas! + herbs, like basil & borage.
Ugh...dead days of Texas "winter", value of weeds, planting citrus trees & Valentine's Day = pruning roses WOOHOO
Even fruit trees need a break. Winter temperatures mean dormancy for fruit trees. A primer on chill hour requirements plus alternatives to traditional fruiting landscape plants.
Want to plant long-season, warm weather crops ASAP? Tomatoes, peppers, basil...??? That means y'all need to start indoors now! like this week! Also short dissertation on cedar & lots of details on types of tomatoes
2022's first freeze for Taylor & our part of Central Texas--Julie's attempts at winterizing kind of okay, kind of a fail. But the indoor plants are happy including the African violets. Plus more info on starting seeds! We need to get seeds ordered and trays started so we can transplant ASAP.
Brrr! Kinda cold in Central Texas--not a lot going on in the garden--but it's a great time to start planning for pre-spring, spring & summer gardens harvest--Let's get some seeds!
Winter may have changed things outside, but we can still enjoy beautiful blooms & foliage inside during the holidays.
The usual Central Texas commentary followed by gift ideas for plant people! Permaculture projects, tools & things to enhance your outdoor space.
It's December...Warm weather extends out planting windows--chit chat about onions plus a SOLID case agains raking those fall leaves.
Permaculture is really cool! Earth friendly practices that make gardening easier while increasing yields. Julie spends some time breaking down permaculture ideas to incorporate with your gardening.
Oh man...Chinese Tallow are so pretty in the fall! Yeah, but not a great tree for natural for some.
Halloween time means cooler temps and less daylight! Familiar creatures are moving on to warmer locations, but new ones are coming around. Also time to start winterizing--moving houseplants in and prepping for cooler temperatures!
Horseherb is a magnificent groundcover. Julie finally gets rid of dead/dying/trashy Arizona Ash trees and contemplates other native & adaptive replacement trees--like Chinese Pistache, Shumard Oaks & Loquats. Yay!
Fall in Texas brings allergens, weeds and an optimal planting window for pretty much everything!
Want bluebonnets & other spring wildflowers in your yard? Julie discusses site selections, prep, planting and maintaining your wildflower patch.
Nearly a whole show about lettuce. Yep. Lettuce. Add lettuce to your garden. Julie approves. Plus dividing perennials.
It's hot...it's dry and between growing seasons...but Julie discovers lots of red around the yard. Refreshing roselle hibiscus, hella spicy chiltepin peppers and waiting for the Ox Blood Lilies to arrive
Early September is starting off hot--pecans dropping, but looking forward to planting broccoli, kale, and other brassicas!
Hot & tired--Julie takes a little break in the garden. The sage is blooming--will it rain? MAYBE! Fall gardening and mulberries! yay!
So many insects--leafhoppers on okra, butterflies & caterpillars everywhere--and all these Army Worms...
Late summer infestation of cactus bugs--deep dive in to dragonfruits and night blooming cereus! With just a little extra info on horticultural oil.
Not a lot is going on right now--but we can do some summer chores while we wait for new growth--then Julie delves into basil.
Beat the heat tips. Getting ready for planting the fall garden including delicious POTATOES. Sugar Rush Peach Peppers & Coral Vine feature--plus a taste test...gone...WRONG.
Add more Texas hardy superstar plants for easy gardening and attracting pollinators...plus...cutting back tomatoes for the fall garden!
Pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds all need nectar plants--Julie discusses more Texas native plants that pollinators love! Turk's Cap, Flame Acanthus & Lantana--drought & heat tolerant
The backyard has been taken over by purple passionflowers & gulf fritillary butterflies. Julie also babysits some monarch butterflies & discusses butterfly & pollinator friendly gardening.
Fall gardening is coming up--another chance to plant cucumbers and the perfect time to plant pumpkins! Also musings on using tobacco to make a DIY insecticide.
Hi. It's hot. July is hard on plants. It's ok. Lots of good stuff like summer harvesting, summer recipes, and planning for the fall garden. Tips for getting ready. Listen now.
Crape myrtles, bug out box (!), and planning for fall--it starts now! Plus tomato propagation for fall harvest!
Julie returns from a quick trip to the beach with new botanical observations, stressed out squash & summer garden care--with instructions on making "fancy" aerated, oxygenated compost tea.
All this rain in Central Texas is dampening everything! Black spot on grapes, tomato blossom drop, chlorosis, mosquitos & fungi. Eh...
The month's winding down. Garden update: Squash vine borers have ascended on the squash plants in Julie's backyard garden. Obsession & extreme measures unfold. Plus a primer on building healthy compost.
Spring maintenance and decoding the mysterious planting category of warm season greens.
Black swallowtail caterpillars show up in the backyard, inspiring a discussion on butterfly gardening. Nectar & host plant recommendations.
Grow loofahs (luffas) in your backyard! This gourd is multipurpose--you can wash with it, you can eat it, and it's pretty. Also Julie discusses earth friendly ways to manage pests.
Backyard strawberries and dealing with pillbug damage. Want to grow your own sweet potato slips? Cool! Get started now for planting by the end of June!
Wildflowers like bluebonnets & paintbrushes are finally making an appearance. Plus Julie gets grumpy over non-native & invasive bastard cabbage.
Compelling reasons for starting and maintain a compost pile + backyard chickens (It's permaculture!)
Things are coming back alive, lots of surprises in Central Texas gardens & starting brand new beds and African Keyhole Gardening.
Central Texas last average frost date has past! Warmer weather, cautious optimism, lawns & a little weed appreciation with some new garden bed advice.
Post-snowstorm damage--triaging the carnage. What's dead? What's not? What to do with this mess...
Snow, Ice, extreme cold...during a pandemic. Assessing the damage and where to start with the garden clean up.
Ugh. Legit winter weather in Central Texas. Seeds that you can start inside in February, plus asparagus & artichokes!
February planting: leafy greens, cole crops, root veggies (carrots, beets & radishes) bare root trees. Winterizing advice & my fondness of sugar snap peas.
Grow Earthkind Roses & have lots of success in Central Texas. Prepping for potato planting in February.
Ooo! Snow on the ground in Central Texas--Hyper focused on tomato plants this week + disappointing grapes.
Kicking off 2021 with a deep dive into broccoli & radishes and dipping a toe into the fascinating world of fermenting.