Why does this bluebonnet look so strange? Find out below. Courtesy photo
The mesquite and pecan trees have awakened, and according to old-timers, that means the last freeze has occurred. It is time to transplant from the nursery, your greenhouse, or gifts from friends and fellow gardeners.
Here are a few tips to minimize the stress on your plants:
• First, try to transplant on a cloudy but not a windy day (I know one out of two is not too bad).
• Second, make sure the soil temperature is above 60-65 degrees.
• Third, check the moisture of the soil and add water if necessary. To test soil, make it into a ball. Squeeze it gently. If it stays in a ball, it’s good!
Last, water newly transplanted plants frequently for the first few days, being careful not to over-water.
These ideas will help to insure a successful transplanting.
WHAT TO PLANT IN APRIL
Did you buy your seeds yet?
[image id="23316" title="Luedecke"] Bill Luedecke and daughter Martelle offer advice to Highland Lakes gardeners.According to our friends at The Natural Gardener, here is what you need to plant this month:
Vegetables: Tomatoes, lima beans, snap beans, beets, chard, okra, black-eyed peas, radishes, New Zealand spinach, and summer squash.
Herbs and plants: Anise, basil, bay, catnip, chives, comfrey, costmary, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, scented geranium, germander, horehound, horseradish, lamb’s ear, lavender, lemongrass, lemon verbena, Mexican mint marigold, oregano, perilla, rosemary, sage, santolina, summer savory, winter savory, sesame, sorrel, southernwood, tansy, tarragon, thyme, and wormwood.
Annual flowers/ornamental seeds: Ageratum, balsam, castor bean, celosia, cleome, coleus, coreopsis, cosmos, cypress vine, four o’clock, globe amaranth (gomphrena), gourds, hyacinth bean vine, impatiens, marigold, moonflower vine, morning glory vine, periwinkle, sunflower, tithonia (Mexican sunflower), and zinnia.
COLD STRATIFICATION
If you found a packet of seeds that reads in the directions that the best time to plant is a month BEFORE the last hard freeze, never fear, there is a solution. These seeds require winter stratification. Many seeds have a dormancy period that is broken with the freeze. Fill an ice cube tray half with water. Sprinkle seeds that need cold stratification on the water in the ice cube tray. Freeze for a couple of days, no more than three or four. Thaw and sow. Or, if you are “ice cubing” wildflower seeds, you can simply toss the ice cubes like seed bombs.
FASCIATION
Every now and then, you will come across a Siamese twin bluebonnet. This is called fasciation. According to Hans Landel and Andrea DeLong-Amaya at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, “Fasciation can be caused by hormonal imbalances in the meristematic cells of plants, which are cells where growth can occur. Fasciation can also be caused by random genetic mutation.”
Evidently, fasciation, although rare, has been observed in more than 100 plant species. With our multitude of wildflowers, the odds are in our favor that one can be seen in the Highland Lakes. Keep your eyes open for these wondrous opportunities.
While on the subject of bluebonnets, did you know that there are SIX species? All kinds of different colors! John Thomas at Wildseed Farms even has maroon for Aggies or anyone who wants something a little different. They are called Alamo Fire.
NEW ADVENTURE
It’s time to pull up the plastic tarp. Mow, weed eat, and till. Don’t forget to get your soil tested. I’m going to put several raised beds in the garden so, as my fruit trees grow and provide more shade over the years, I can adjust what I plant. I am planting veggies in a third of my garden lengthwise.
Dad: What vegetables are you going to plant?
Daughter: Peppers, lettuce, spinach, peas, and some melons. But the melons are runners, they’ll take up a lot of space.
Dad: Then plant them at the end in a corner so they stay in one place (run into the fencing), Blondie.
Keep your souls and soles in your garden!
Remember the True Master Gardener: Jesus said, “I am the vine; my Father is the Gardener.” John 15:1
Contact Bill Luedecke at The Luedecke Group Realtors at (512) 577-1463 or email him at bill@texasland.net. Contact Martelle Luedecke at (512) 769-3179 or luedeckephotography@gmail.com.
