Gardening 2016: It’s time to get to work

In about 6 weeks, the experts say that zone 9 gardeners should be able to start their spring planting.


In South Texas that falls around Valentine’s Day.


The key is the temperature, and as hot as it is most of the time in the Rio Grande Valley, it is often too cold to

plant in February.


Last year I planted my zinnias and tomatoes at the end of February.


Zinnia seeds and baby tomato plants do NOT like to be cold.  

I really doesn’t matter because I have so much work to do and

that makes me smile.

It is going to take a great deal of time and elbow grease to
 
get back to this

when things look like this.

Gardening To Do List #1.


*Find zinnia seeds.

Last year I bought seeds in every small town hardware/feed store while on trips to Montgomery to see our

grandsons. On our drive home, that included stops in Montgomery, Navasota, Brenham, and Cuero.

I found wonderful gardening supplies at a hardware store in Cuero.

This year I may have to order my zinnia seeds.


* Turn the soil in all of my raised beds.

It is too early to amend the soil .

I am just going to ‘air things out’ a bit.


*Clean out and organize my garden shed .

I am going to completely empty the shed, hose it down, and organize my tools and supplies.


* Clean the patio by my raised beds.


Oh dear- what a mess.

I will probably need to use my high pressure washer with just a little clorox.

On second thought, maybe clorox isn’t such a good idea.

Any suggestions?

It looks like mildew from the rain and moisture we have had this winter.


***

Come along with me as I get things ready for spring!