I started working on my herb beds in the garden last week. Even though it’s too early for most herbs this is the time of year I can add another layer of mulch to the mint beds after digging out any damaged plants and weed interlopers.
The spearmint, peppermint, orange mint, double mint, apple mint and Mojito mint I grow are at their best from mid-March until early June as long as you take certain steps and understand that they can become invasive.
Mint likes moist but not too soggy soil, morning sun and mild temperatures. It bolts in June or July but you can extend the season if you plant it where it gets some protection from afternoon sun.
Light fertilizing is important, I use a diluted mix of sea kelp once in the early spring after the plants, which are cut back in August, have begun to re-emerge in the garden.
I don’t mind mint running, it makes the lawn smell good when it’s mowed, but if you do mind put a barrier around the bed sunk 6-8 inches into the ground. Mint is shallow rooted, it may flow over the top of your barrier but it doesn’t root very deep.
SINGED BROCCOLI
Ann in League City writes:
Some of my broccoli has brown spots on the crowns. What causes this?
Most likely it was our recent frost. I had some of the florets in my broccoli crowns turn brown after the frost we had a couple of weeks ago. If you want to be sure cut the top off and see if the interior of the stem is brown. I cut the damaged part out and steamed the crown, then added some fresh squeezed Meyer lemon juice. It tasted just fine.
If you do cut the crown, leave plent of stalk and you make get a follow crop of side shoots.
PRUNING CLINIC
Join Fort Bend Master Gardeners and Texas Rose Rustlers for a Rose Pruning Clinic which will include when to prune roses, best pruning methods, how to insure your tools are disease free, and a hands-on pruning opportunity. Please bring your own hand pruners, loppers, and gloves. We will meet on Saturday, February 2 at 9:00 a.m. in front of the Bud O’Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg, 77471.
TEXAS HOME AND GARDEN SHOW
The 27th Annual Texas Home Garden Show will be held in Reliant Park, One Reliant Park beginning on Friday, Feb. 8 through Sunday, Feb. 10, 2012.
Show times are Friday, 2-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Among the scheduled gardening attractions are Organic Lawn Care, Landscaping Ideas, Ponds, Plants and Trees. For more information visit www.TexasHomeandGarden.com. THE TOPIC IS ORCHIDSLaurie and Shiela Scoy are the guest speakers at the Feb. 13 League City Garden Club meeting. The topic: Orchids. Social begins at 10 a.m. with the meeting to follow at 10:30 at Tuscan Lakes Village Clubhouse, 1610 Tuscan Village Drive, League City. For more information contact Kimberly Nitzschke, club president @ 281-332-9528 or lctxgardendiva@yahoo.comSPRING HOME GARDEN SHOWDiscover fresh, new ideas at 11th annual Spring Home Garden Show at The Woodlands Saturday and Sunday, March 2 3. The show will be held at the The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel Convention Center at 1601 Lake Robbins Drive.Jim Molony is a certified Brazoria County Master Gardener. Check out our gumbo soil page on facebook. Have a gardening question? Email jim@gumbosoil.com
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