In the Vegetable Garden – April 2019

by Patty Leander
photos by Patty and Bruce Leander

It’s time to fully transition to warm weather plants this month. Cool weather vegetables that are left in the garden as temperatures start to warm up can develop a bitter flavor and usually become a beacon for pests. Unless you are saving seed from a particular plant it is generally a good idea to harvest and enjoy the last of the winter garden and make room for okra, Southern peas, melons and other vegetables that actually like hot weather. If you haven’t planted tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, squash or beans do it soon as we have a fairly short window of good growing conditions in spring before the days and nights begin their annual warm-up. Once plants are established and growing vigorously in the garden, they can better handle the heat that is inevitably headed our way.

Here is the vegetable gardener’s checklist for April:

• Eggplant and pepper transplants can still be planted this month. Look for new or unusual varieties at local nurseries and plant sales. Shishito is a mild Japanese pepper that is easy to grow and very productive.
• Extend your harvest window for bush beans by planting a short row of seeds a week or two apart.
• Sweet potatoes can be planted any time in April of May. Look for slips at local nurseries or from online sources such as www.southernexposure.com or www.tatorman.com.
• Fertilize corn when it is 1-2 feet tall. Pull soil up around the base of plants with a hoe to help anchor them in the ground.
• Apply a 3-4” layer of mulch to deter weeds, hold moisture and moderate soil temperature as summer approaches. As mulch breaks down it adds valuable organic matter to the soil.
• Fertilize tomatoes with a water-soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks to encourage vigorous growth.
• Warm days and cool nights can encourage spread of powdery mildew on cucurbits – squash, cucumbers and melons. Adequate plant spacing is important to provide plenty of air circulation. Spray at the first sign of infection with an approved fungicide following label directions (more than one application may be required to keep it from spreading). Organic controls include neem oil, potassium bicarbonate and Serenade fungicide.
• Watch out for fire ants in and around the vegetable garden; they can be especially active after a rain.
• Enjoy our beautiful Texas wildflowers!