Way To Grow



Q & A


Last month I started writing a little blog for the Gardening Volunteers of South Texas newsletter. The first one I sent in was some questions and answers from a talk I gave to a gardening group in San Antonio.

I’m always reminded that there are many people who are still learning the “ropes” of gardening and many of the questions are asked again and again. So here are several of them.

I have another talk over in Kerrville on Tuesday and will write down more questions from there for another time.

Q: Why aren’t my tomatoes doing well?
A: I had to first ask a question—“Are those the tomatoes you planted last spring?”
Then, the answer is, those tomatoes are finished—they’ve done their thing and it’s time to take them out and get ready for new plants in a few weeks.

Q: What exactly does “full sun” mean?
A: Full sun means all-day sunshine from daylight to dark…period. No exceptions. That’s why it’s important to
get the recommended varieties for this area. The local nurseries are your best choice for plants that will do well

Q: Are seeds that are bought in bulk at some stores as good as the expensive ones bought in packages?
A: Yes. In fact, they may be even fresher seeds than the packaged type.

Q: Is it safe to have a veggie garden over a horse pen?
A: Yes, if you take the horse out first. In fact, a horse pen would probably be one of the best places you could
use because of all the horse manure. Be sure you add lots of compost to the beds as you build them.

Q: How long do seeds last in the fridge?
A: I have some that are 10-12 years old and still good. The seeds lose a little germination rate each year (about
1%) but what difference would it really make if 10 years from now, only 9 out of 10 germinated?

Q: How do you thin seedlings?
A: With scissors—sharp pointed ones, like embroidery scissors. Cutting is better because it doesn’t disturb the
roots of the plant next to the one you thin out.

Q: What is the proper spacing for tomato planting?
A: 18-24 inches so they shade each other just a little. If you let them grow very tall, plant them on the outer side of the garden. That way they don’t shade the smaller plants.

Q: Can you use broken or crushed pecan shells for mulch?
A: Yes, and it will help keep cats out of the bed. But, squirrels will come to check out the shells periodically.

Q: Are oak leaves good mulch?
A: Yes, they last a long time and decompose well when turned under.

Q: What does “side dress” mean?
A: Adding fertilizer periodically along the sides of the plants. Be sure to water immediately.

Q: How do I manage bugs in the garden?
A: First, maintaining healthy plants with healthy soil adds up to no bug problems. Second, kill only the bugs you can identify.

Judicious Winter Pruning

Since these last couple of freezes, many or most of the plants in your yard have sent their sap down to the roots to be stored for a few weeks and most if not all of the leaves are gone. Now you can really see what the structure of the shrub or tree looks like. What that means is that NOW is a really good time to do any pruning that needs to be done.

Contrary to popular belief, pruning is a lot more than just hacking the tops off shrubs and trees. In fact, indiscriminate pruning causes more ugly than beauty. Most people won’t cut a plant for any reason. But believe it or not, many plants need and depend on some pruning by the human element when Mother Nature doesn’t or can’t do it.

There are basically 4 reasons that plants should be pruned:
• To maintain plant health
• To train the plant
• To improve the quality of flowers, fruit, foliage or stems
• To restrict growth.

Remember that the first branches to come off are the dead, diseased or damaged (3 Ds) and that the needs of the plant should come first. If one of your plants requires constant pruning, that is a good indication that it is too large for the spot where it’s planted.


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Tom Harris

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