IN THE GARDEN: Frost protection tips; spring essentials checklist

With temperatures expected to drop into the teens this week, it’s crucial to protect your plants from frost damage. Cover tender plants with frost cloths, old blankets, or burlap, making sure the material reaches the ground to trap heat. For added insulation, use stakes to keep covers from directly touching foliage. 

Mulch heavily around the base of plants to retain soil warmth, and water thoroughly before the freeze: Moist soil holds heat better than dry soil. 

If possible, bring potted plants indoors or into a garage. For fruit trees and delicate shrubs, wrap trunks with burlap to provide extra protection. If the sun comes out and temperatures rise above freezing, remove the covers to allow sunlight to reach the plants and prevent overheating.

ESSENTIAL SPRING GARDENING TIPS

Test your soil—Check pH and nutrient levels to determine any necessary amendments.

Support climbing plants—Install trellises, stakes, or cages for tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans to promote upward growth and prevent pests and diseases.

Water wisely—Most vegetables, including tomatoes, need about an inch of water per week. Use a soaker hose and cover with plenty of mulch to retain moisture.

Companion planting—Grow herbs and vegetables together to attract beneficial insects and deter pests. 

Keep a garden journal—Record planting dates and locations for future reference. A simple map can be helpful, too.

Label your plants—Popsicle sticks make great, inexpensive markers.

Plan bed widths for easy access—Ensure you can comfortably reach the center of your garden bed from either side for pruning, weeding, and harvesting.

Know when to harvest—Mature jalapeños have a glossy appearance; potatoes are ready when leaves turn brown; celery is best at 12-15 inches tall.

Try something new—Experiment with a plant or vegetable you haven’t grown before!

Understand determinate tomatoes—These varieties grow to a fixed height, produce fruit within a short period, and then decline. Perfect for small gardens or container planting.

Harvest herbs at peak flavor—Pick rosemary and other herbs in the morning, after the dew dries but before the heat of the day, for the best flavor.

Natural fire ant control—Mix equal parts Borax and sugar and lightly sprinkle near mound openings to attract and eliminate ants.

Prune for healthier plants—Remove lower leaves touching the soil to prevent disease and thin dense foliage to improve airflow.

Use vinegar as a natural herbicide—Spray 20 percent vinegar directly on unwanted weeds in driveways or sidewalks. Be careful: It kills all plants it touches!

Optimize garden layout—Plant sprawling crops like melons in garden corners to save space.

Control grasshoppers with flour—Toss all-purpose or self-rising flour over grasshopper-infested areas early in the morning when dew is heavy. Repeat in 2-3 weeks as needed.

Thin carrot seedlings—Once true leaves appear, space plants 2-3 inches apart for optimal root development.

Deploy beneficial nematodes—These microscopic “soil marines” help control fleas, fire ants, grubworms, termites, and roaches.

Stagger planting for continuous harvest—Plant in intervals to avoid harvesting everything at once. Example: Sow cantaloupe seeds every 4-5 days or plant half your tomatoes one week and the rest the next.

Harvest small and often—Picking vegetables when they’re young and tender improves flavor, boosts production, and makes harvesting easier on your back.

Till next time. 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 

“In the Garden” is written by father-daughter gardening team Bill and Martelle Luedecke. If you have any gardening questions, contact Martelle at 512-769-3179 or luedeckephotography@gmail.com or Bill at bill@texasland.net.