vegetable gardening texas

Posted on | March 2, 2010 | No Comments

vegetable gardening texas

The Carolina jasmine is a favorite vine for many gardeners for a many reasons. Some are attracted to the color it adds to a landscape. Others enjoy the softly scented flower that bloom early spring each year.

Once this plant has been shown to you, you will quickly be able to identify it anywhere it may grow. This evergreen vine is pleasing to the eye, and under ideal growing conditions grows upwards to twenty feet. When grow in bright conditions, the tendency of the plant is to remain compact. If grow when partially shaded, it easily can grow over fences, trellises, trees and other sturdy objects.

The colors of the leaves are rich green, and are an attractive counterpoint for its small yellow flower clusters. The Carolina jasmine blooms from late winter to early in spring, depending on the part of the country you live in. The flowers develop into small clusters, are tubular shaped and can add a boost of color to any landscape.

The Carolina jasmine is native of the South. If growing in the wild, it will likely be found along, streams, rivers, lowlands and other areas where plenty of shade is found. This jasmine is not a water loving plant, however it does have a liking for damp locations. They can be found close to the coast, from Virginia, all the way down to Florida and as far West as Texas and even Mexico.

This vine is durable and can handle a good dose of abuse, but as you might have guessed, a fair amount of attention needs to be giving to successful care for the Carolina jasmine. It should be placed in an area where the roots are well shaded, but it is perfectly alright if the leaves and vines receive direct sunlight.

This is an aggressive growing vine, which is why many people prefer to grow it in a container. The soil should not be allowed to dry out completely. But you don not want the soil to remain soggy, either.

This jasmine is a wonderful plant and in the right location, it is surprisingly strong and durable. Beyond basic pruning it does not need much attention and is generally easy to care for.

The plant is poisonous and children should be kept away from it. Its toxicity comes from sap excreted from the plant. It is wise to use gloves and wash your hands anytime the Carolina jasmine is handled. When planting this jasmine keep it away from any plant you do not want choked out, since it is an aggressive growing vine that can easily take control over weak plants and vines.

Steve Habib is an active gardener and researcher on the subject of growing and caring for a variety of plants. To receive our FREE BOOK “How Do Plants Grow” visit the HOME PAGE To learn more about CAROLINA JASMINE visit here.

Fruit and Vegetable Garden in Austin, TX – #1

Is coastal hay good for a vegetable garden for the winter?

now its rainy season and temps lowering, could coastal hay be ok in the garden. gulf coast in southeast texas
this stuff is pretty clean and dry, looks like 100% straw. the feed store kept bails inside a trailer. the garden has been amended with mushroom compost mixed with sand and pine mulch last spring 2009. should i let it sit for the season and compost for next year?

Not at all. It is a bermuda grass on steroids. It has no ‘viable” seed has to be sprigged in and requires tons of nitrogen…It would bleed your soil of all nutrition. It is hell to get rid of as are all bermudas. Best to plant an annual clover, beans, peas or vetch. Winter rye, oats or some annual that can be tilled in and never heard from again. If you compost Bermuda hay it will do the trick, but it takes more time than you describe. I turn my old round bales up on end and let the weather get into them with some dry molasses and septic tank starter scooped on. and in two years the compost is the richest you will find…helps to water the top of it often. I never even use fertilizer in the garden when I have that bale compost.

Never put live bermuda in a garden area unless you are finished with it as a garden space. In fact, be very careful what you mulch with as you might introduce seeds of who knows what and ruin your garden.

Good luck from a Tejano in Mexico.

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