• Test your soil to determine pH and nutrient ratios and needs if be.
• Many vegetables need about an inch of water a week, tomatoes do. Place a soaker hose around your veggies and then cover with mulch, mulch and more mulch.
• Herb and vegetable companion gardening help in attracting beneficial insects and pollinators and dissuading unwanted visitors. Please fill free to write with specific questions. We’ve done bunches of research on this topic.
• Journal what you planted where and when so that you can duplicate your success. You can even draw a small map for future reference.
• Label your rows and plants. Popsicle sticks work great.
• When you are deciding how wide to make your garden bed or raised beds, here’s a good rule of thumb: Make sure that you can comfortably reach the middle of the bed from each side, to prune, weed and harvest.
• Plant something new that you’ve never tried before!
• Harvest your potatoes when the leaves start to turn brown.
• Fire ant solution: Mix equal parts Borax (or similar brand) and sugar. Then sprinkle around the openings of the mound. The object is to entice not smother so go easy on the sprinkling.
• Harvest celery when it is 12-15 inches in height.
• 20% vinegar is a practical mainstay. To kill the weeds in the driveway or sidewalk, pour/spray directly on the unwanted invasive. You can also put it in a spray bottle and spray around your house and porch to keep ants out of your home. Beware that where you place or spray you are going to kill whatever the vinegar comes in contact with. The vinegar doesn’t know the difference between the plants that we love and dislike.
• Plant running fruits and vegetables such as melons in the corner of your garden.
• When you see the grasshoppers it’s time to get the flour out. 50# will be more than enough to do the average yard. All-purpose flour will work; self-rising flour is best. And grasshoppers aren’t ”gluten-free.” It is best to apply the flour of choice early in the morning when there is a heavy dew on the ground. Step number one is to determine the direction of the wind. (hint hint) Step two, throw with the wind. (hint hint hint) Step three is to cast the flour by hand over the yard’s and garden’s infested areas. Repeat the process in about two to three weeks, when the next hatch begins.
• Soil Marines reporting for duty!! Beneficial nematodes control fleas, fire ants, grubworms, termites and roaches.
• Stagger your plantings so that you don’t have your entire harvest yield in one week.
• Once the veggies start really producing, remember to pick them small and tender. We do this for two reasons. First of all, they taste better, and secondly, they produce more when you pick them often. And thirdly, the harvest is easier on your back.

Till next time. Keep your souls and soles in your garden!

Contact Bill at The Luedecke Group Realtors (512) 577-1463 or email [email protected]. Or contact Martelle at Luedecke Photography (512) 769-3179 or email [email protected]