by Patty Leander
photos by Bruce Leander
An abbreviated article this month. By the time the May newsletter is published, we will have welcomed a new grandbaby to our family, and Bruce and I will be knee deep in grandparent duties. Because of COVID-19 restrictions we will not be allowed to go to the hospital, and our almost 2-year-old grandson will not get to meet his little sister until she comes home, but that won’t make the occasion any less joyful!
The rain has been generous this spring and I hope you have found dry days to get out and garden. Did you get to read Carolyn Williams’ article about the history of the Travis County Master Gardeners program in last month’s issue of the Compost Bin? It was very well-written and researched (thank you Carolyn!). After reading about the volunteer efforts and contributions of so many Master Gardeners, vital to the success of this program, I had a dream about a tall building with lots of windows. Behind each window stood a Master Gardener (yes, some had recognizable faces!) and they were smiling, clapping and waving at health care workers outside. Soon Master Gardeners will be back in service, but until then, stay safe, be well and hang in there!
Here is the vegetable gardener’s checklist for May:
- As the temperature warms, plant heat-lovers like sweet potato, Malabar spinach, okra and Southern peas (these include black-eye, purple hull and crowder peas). Yard long beans, a vining cousin of the Southern pea, is fun to grow, good to eat, and can take the heat of a Texas summer.
- Potatoes planted in February should be large and vigorous by now. Check the base of the plants to carefully harvest a few new potatoes. Harvest the remaining tubers in late May or early June when the tops begin to yellow.
- Fertilize fruiting vegetables (tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant) when the first fruit appear and again 3-4 weeks later, using either a liquid or granular garden fertilizer according to package instructions. If you use a granular fertilizer scratch it in lightly around the perimeter of the plant and water it in.
- Uncover zucchini and yellow squash plants when they start blooming. Once a female flower is pollinated a squash will develop and reach edible size in 7-10 days. Even if the plant is attacked by a squash vine borer you should get a decent harvest.
- As tomatoes grow, gently direct stems so they stay inside their cages—once they escape it’s very difficult to pull them back inside the cage without breaking the stems.
- Harvest onions when the tops begin to fall over, which usually happens toward the end of this month. Pull up the plants and spread them out to cure in a dry, shady spot for about a week. Onions that have produced a seedstem should be eaten first as they will not store well.
- Weed your garden regularly. Weeds divert water and nutrients from your vegetables, resulting in decreased yields. They are easier to pull or hoe when they are young and all that green matter can be added to the compost pile.
- Avoid sprinkling plants from above – this is not an efficient way to get water to the roots where it is needed. If you must water by hand do it slowly and deliberately and avoid wetting the foliage.
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