veggie gardening

We are so excited to kick off our fall planting season with a workshop for kids of all ages! We think learning how to grow veggies from seed is an amazing life skill and SO rewarding when they make it to your dinner plate. Join us here at Gill’s for our Kids Fall Seed Starting Workshop at 10am this Saturday, September 9th!

Early September is time to start lots of different veggie seeds for a fall harvest, including broccoli, carrots, beans, corn, cucumbers, leafy greens, radishes and lots more! We’ll have stations set up for kids to fill their own compostable egg carton with up to 12 different seed starts. We’ll provide the seed starting soil, the seeds, and everything else you need + instructions for how to care for the seedlings once you get them home. Once they grow to about 2-3″, you can simply cut out each cell of the carton and plant it directly into the soil. Then with a little time and TLC, you’ll have a bountiful harvest to enjoy and share later this fall and winter!

This event is free and open to everyone. Can’t wait to see you all this Saturday!

Garden Talks at Gill’s continue this Saturday at 10am with another very special guest! We’re excited to welcome Andy Chidester of Medina Agriculture Products , makers of our favorite organic fertilizers, Medina Growin Green and Hasta Gro! Andy is a seasoned speaker, Master Gardener, Master Composter, and an all-around awesome resource for veggie gardening. She’ll discuss bed prep, what vegetables and herbs you should be growing, how to attract pollinators to the garden, how to get more bang with your fertilizer, and more! Bring your veggie questions!

A few words from Andy: “I began making mud pies in my grandmother’s vegetable garden at an early age. This led to a lifelong addiction to gardening from vegetables, herbs, butterflies and bees, and now houseplants! I have worked in the horticultural industry since 1998, I am a State of Texas Master Gardener and Composter. And I am a soil geek that is still learning! I don’t know it all and always learn something when teaching a class! My next adventure – I am hoping to become a beekeeper! So, let’s have some FUN!”

This event is free and open to everyone, plus we’ll be doing some gift card and other giveaways! Can’t wait to see you all this Saturday!

Fall is OUR ABSOLUTE BEST TIME for planting veggies, trees, flowers, and just about everything else! It just feels good! But time is of the essence! A lot of the things we do in the garden this month will set us up for success for seasons to come. Here are our top must-do’s for October.

Check out our October Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, shrubs, and perennials can be planted 12 months out of the year! The only difference is the amount of water they need depending on temperatures and wind.

1. Plant Food

Some of the best… Broccoli, Cauliflower, Lettuce, Cabbage, Carrots, Beets, Radishes, Cilantro, Nasturtiums, and the list goes on. Remember – veggies are heavy feeders. We recommend feeding with an organic granular like Medina Growin Green or Plant Tone on the 1^st of each month, and again with liquid Hasta Gro on the 15^th. Set these reminders on your phone/calendar and you’ll have much better production.

Watch: Coastal Bend Veggie Gardening Guide

2. Plant Fall Flowers

Take advantage of the weather while the days are still long. It’s the perfect time to start cool weather Impatiens, Marigolds, Snapdragons, Violas, Petunias, Calendula, Begonias – the flowers and colors that say, “FALL!”. Warm days help flowers develop roots so they can look their best during the cooler months ahead.

3. Ready, Set, Fertilize Your Lawn + Prevent Weeds

Fertilizing lawns this month is essential for developing strong roots and healthy growth next Spring and Summer. We emphatically recommend organic Medina Growin Green! Amazing stuff! A 40lb bag covers 3000 sq ft of lawn, and for a small fee, we can rent you a spreader which makes it very easy to apply. Not only does Medina Growin Green work wonders on lawns, you can use it in all areas of your landscape, including your veggie garden. If you’re dealing with a weed problem, treat for weeds, wait 2-3 weeks, then fertilize. Do not use “weed & feed” products! Prevent weeds in your lawn by applying Weed Beater Complete or Hi-Yield Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper.

Read: Fall Lawn Care

4. Plant for Hummingbirds and Migratory Birds

Right now is a great time to plant all kinds of blooming plants that hummingbirds and other migratory birds need. Some of our favs for South Texas are native Flame Acanthus (aka hummingbird bush), Salvias (like native Salvia greggii and Salvia leucantha), Cape Honeysuckle, native Turk’s Cap, native Beautyberry, native Loquat, Firecracker plant, Coral bean – the list goes on and on. We have been covered in hummingbirds here at Gill’s!

5. Plant Trees Now for The Best Head Start

We’ll say it again… planting trees is all about growing roots. Trees planted in Fall grow more next Spring & Summer because they spend time all Fall and Winter working on their root system. It also helps prepare them for hot temps next Summer. Live Oak, Burr Oak, Magnolia, Anacua, Cedar Elms, & Wild Olive are some of our South Texas fav’s and we’ve been getting some gorgeous specimens!

Read: The Advantages of Fall Planting

After a long summer, the recent rains and cooler temps have worked wonders for our lawns and landscapes. Everything is bursting with new growth, which means everything is using a lot of energy, which means…we need to fertilize!! Use our simple fertilizing tips and you’ll see a big difference: healthier, stronger, more disease and pest-resistant, and more beautiful lawns and plants! Here’s how.

First off, let’s clear up a couple of common misconceptions about fertilizing. Don’t wait for rain in the forecast to fertilize. Yes, granular fertilizer needs to be watered in, but gently. Rain will actually wash most of it away into the street rather than down into the lawn. Wait for a few dry days in a row to fertilize. Also, don’t try to treat for weeds and fertilize at the same time. It doesn’t work! That’s why we don’t sell and don’t recommend “weed and feed” type products. Treat for weeds first, wait a couple weeks, then fertilize.

Now, on to the tips! We carry a few different fertilizers that do slightly different things for different plants, but you really only need one – Medina Growin Green! One 40lb bag of Medina Growin Green covers 3,000 sq. ft. of lawn and you can use it on everything else too! It’s all organic and works like magic on lawns, veggie gardens, trees, shrubs, flowers, blooming perennials, you name it.

Make it easy on yourself and borrow one of our lawn spreaders which will apply an even layer of fertilizer to the lawn. Then water it in by hand or by sprinkler, just not too much. Granular fertilizer, like Medina Growin Green, is meant to slowly work it’s way down into the root system. You’ll still see some bits of fertilizer on the surface after you water it in which is A-OK. Take the remainder of the bag and “chicken feed” it around the base of your other landscape plants, veggies, herbs, and flowers. For trees and larger shrubs, sprinkle fertilizer out away from the trunk at the drip line (aka the outer edge where rainwater drips down).

Follow this schedule: fertilize lawns, trees, and hardy shrubs with Medina Growin Green once this fall (right now!). Fertilize veggies, flowers, and blooming perennials once a month. Since veggies are heavy feeders, you can follow up with liquid Hasta Gro every 2 weeks. Simple and very effective!!

Have you set your 2024 new year’s gardening resolution?! January is time to get moving and set yourself up for big success this spring and beyond. Beds need prepping, veggie seeds need starting, citrus trees need feeding, and YES you can get a head start on planting too! Here are our top must-do’s (and don’t do’s!) this month.

Check out our January Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, shrubs, and perennials can be planted 12 months out of the year! The only difference is the amount of water they need depending on temperatures and wind!

1. Plan and Prep Beds for Spring Planting

January is our month to plan and prep for spring. Clean up, remove weeds, and most importantly, prep your garden beds by adding some compost! We love Nature’s Blend Compost for veggie and landscape beds, including raised beds. A good ratio is 1 bag per 12 sq. ft. of bed space. If you make your own compost, that approximate ratio works well. It doesn’t have to be exact. If working out is part of your new year’s resolution, get outside, grab your garden forks or a shovel, and turn some compost into the first few inches of soil!

2. Feed Your Citrus Trees

Fertilize your citrus trees in January for more blooms, again in May/June for better fruit set, and again in September/October for nutrients. We recommend fertilizing with Espoma Citrus-Tone – all organic and highly effective. Remember to fertilize trees, including citrus, at the drip line. That means spread fertilizer in a circle where the rain naturally drips down from the leaves, not right up against the trunk.

3. Wait to Prune!

Remember – wait to do any major pruning of most plants until February! We can be tempted to want to do too much pruning in January, but you don’t want plants to think its time to start putting on new growth since we still may have another cold snap. Even if we do get a cold snap that damages some foliage, wait to prune because that damaged foliage will help insulate against more possible cold weather.

Ornamental grasses, like Pink Muhly or Purple Fountain grass, are a January exception. They should be cut back this month. Trim them straight across (no cupcakes) 3”-4“ from the ground. Use a bungee cord or piece of rope to gather them up, then cut straight across with your shears.

4. Start Veggie Seeds!

January is time to start tomatoes, kale, chard, onions, carrots, beets, parsley and more from seed. We carry seed-starting trays, peat pots, and Espoma Organic Seed Starter soil for starting seeds indoors or on a protected/covered patio. A good rule of thumb is that once the seedlings have made their first true set of leaves, they are ready to be transplanted into a larger container outside or directly into the garden bed.

Check out our full Spring planting guide here. And stay tuned because we’re planning all kinds of cool events for 2024, including a seed starting workshop this month!

5. Grow Potatoes and Onions!

January is prime time to plant potatoes and onions! We carry Red La Soda and Yukon Gold potatoes because they are better suited for South Texas growing conditions than larger varieties. Watch Matt’s video guide to planting potatoes here!

Plant onions in a row every 3-4″ then thin them by plucking every other green top as they grow. This will allow the onions to grow to full size. Keep in mind that both potatoes and onions need well-drained soil. Great for raised beds!

6. Adjust Lighting and Water for Houseplants

Generally, most houseplants will need more light and less water this month. A moisture meter will come in handy to be sure you’re not overwatering. Experiment with moving houseplants to sunnier windows, and take them outside for a sunny day or 2. Keep their leaves clean to help them take up sunlight and prevent bad bugs. We like using a very light solution of Neem oil + water to wipe down leaves here at Gill’s.

7. Yes, You Can Plant It in January!

Why wait?? Trees, shrubs, and blooming perennials planted now will build healthy root systems during their winter dormancy making for stronger, healthier plants in spring and summer. Not to mention all kinds of cool season flowers and veggies that love our January weather. Keep an eye on the forecast, but remember that new plants are easy to cover with frost blankets if we get a cold spell.

Spring is around the corner and Gill garden talks are back!! We are so excited about this February lineup! As always, the talks are free and open to everyone of all ages and gardening skill levels. We’ll hold the talks outside if the weather’s nice, or indoors if not. Mark your calendars for Saturday mornings at 10am all February. Here’s a preview!

February 3rd – Tomato Time with DeAnna Baumgartner

Early February is prime tomato planting time for us. We’ll be bringing in all kinds of prize-winning and heirloom tomato plants and everything you need to get an awesome spring harvest. Join Gill’s manager and tomato expert, DeAnna to learn about different varieties and how to grow the tastiest tomatoes.

February 10th – Low-Water Landscape Design with Harry Villarreal

If you know Harry, Landscape Designer here at Gill’s, you know he loves pokey plants! Yuccas, different Agaves, Mangave, and cacti can all serve as features and focal points in the landscape AND help you conserve water. Or maybe you’re interested in incorporating Texas native plants and reducing lawn spaces. Harry will cover all this and more – conserve water and look great doing it!

February 17th – Spring Kickoff with James Gill

We’re so happy to have Gill’s founder and Master Naturalist, James Gill back for his annual Spring Kickoff talk! He’ll cover proper pruning, fertilizing, planting, design, and lots more to help you have the most successful spring gardening season. This is an awesome opportunity to bring your questions and share ideas with James. If you haven’t heard him speak before, you’re guaranteed to be entertained and leave with some new plant knowledge.

February 24th – Perennial Color: Tricks of the Trade with grower Zach Halfin, Green Lake Nursery

We have a close working relationship with all of the growers we purchase plants from. Green Lake Nursery in San Marcos has quickly become one of our go-to growers of gorgeous perennial color like salvias, native Turk’s Cap, Lantana, ornamental grasses and many more. Their plants are consistently stunning thanks to grower, Zach Halfin. Zach will share tricks of the trade from an expert grower’s perspective on how to grow showroom-quality plants in your landscape. Not to be missed!

We can’t wait to see everyone! Stay tuned here and follow us on Facebook and Instagram where we’ll continue to post updates about talks and events. We have lots more to come throughout the year!

The weather this week is making us want to get outside and garden!! We’re stocking up on veggies, Texas native plants, trees, and lots of flowers and blooming perennials as we head into Spring! Here’s our top 7 gardening tasks to focus on this month to kickstart an amazing season.

1. Be Ready for Cool Weather and Start Planting!

Keep your eye on the forecast for cold snaps, but don’t delay your planting projects. Cool season flowers, trees, shrubs, veggies, and more need to be planted this month to take advantage of cool weather and get a head start on root growth. If we do get another freeze, new plants are easy to cover!

2. Start Your Veggies!

It’s time to start veggie favs like tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, beans, lettuces/greens, & more! Prep those beds with Nature’s Blend compost and get going. If you’re short on space, use containers! Stop by and we’ll help you plan your veggie garden and get you everything you’ll need for a bountiful harvest.

3. Come Learn All About Growing Tomatoes with DeAnna This Saturday at 10!

Tomatoes need to be planted early this month. So….join us this Saturday, 2/3 at 10am for our garden talk, Tomato Time with DeAnna Baumgartner, Gill’s manager and tomato expert! DeAnna will share valuable tips for growing all kinds of tomatoes in the ground and in containers or raised veggie beds. This talk is great for beginners and experienced tomato growers alike. Bring your questions and share your plant knowledge as we hang out and talk about everything tomatoes. We’ll hold the talk outside if the weather’s nice, or inside the greenhouse if not. One attendee will win a $100 Gill’s gift card, and we’ll do some other giveaways too!

4. Keep Feeding Veggies & Flowers

Blooming plants need food! Veggies are especially heavy feeders – they need to be able to sustain blooming and producing fruit. We recommend mixing in a little Bio-Tone Starter when you plant, which contains mycorrhizal fungi that promotes root growth. Then feed with a good organic, granular plant food like Plant-Tone or Medina Growin Green once a month, and supplement with liquid organic Hasta Gro in between. An easy way to remember this is to set an alarm or calendar event for granular feeding on the 1st of the month, then Hasta Gro on the 15th. These will add nutrients to your plants and keep your soil alive and healthy too.

5. Mid February = Time to Prune!

February is the time to get plants cut back to make way for big spring growth! Since we just had a freeze, we recommend waiting another week or so until mid-February. Most perennials like Lantana, Turk’s Cap, and Salvias need a good pruning back to about 4-8″ – don’t be shy! For any plants with woody stems/branches (like Esperanza and Hibiscus) that look dead or damaged, do the scratch test before pruning. Start up high and scratch with your fingernail, a dime, or the back side of a knife. Don’t scratch too deep. If you see the bright green cambium layer (like the photo), that means it’s still alive! If you see brown/gray when you scratch, keep working your way down the plant until you see green. That will tell you where to cut. As always, contact Gill’s if you’re not sure or have questions about whether or how to prune specific plants.

6. Keep Watch for Winter Insects

Scale is a variety of hard bodied sucking insects that range in appearance from white oyster shells to brown boogers stuck to the leaves of plants. Some of their favorites are Burford Holly, Bird of Paradise, Flax Lily, & Irises. They are easily controlled with a spray of organic All Seasons Oil Spray, but it must be done now. The oil spray literally coats and suffocates the the eggs that are waiting for spring to hatch. It’s also good for treating indoor plants that may have scale or spider mites.

7. Got Weeds?

Right now, hand pulling the thistle while the ground is moist and keeping the clover mowed before it flowers are the best options to control 2 of our most common weeds. Weed killer sprays (like Weed B Gon) work with warm weather and sunshine with no rain or heavy night fog. We need to wait to spray until temperatures are consistently between 75-80 degrees. Be patient and wait a few more weeks since you should only spray one time or you risk damaging your lawn.

Check out our February Garden Guide for more tips!

Join us rain or shine this Saturday, February 17th at 10am for Spring Kickoff with Gill’s founder and Master Naturalist James Gill! We’ve made it to mid February…that means Spring is here!! It’s time to cut away the brown and bring on the green. You’ve probably already noticed new green growth and new buds – the plants know! We’re so excited to have James back this Saturday to discuss proper pruning, planting, veggie gardening, designing your landscape, native plants, lawn care, and lots more. You’re sure to hear some good gardening stories. Bring your questions! Click below to watch James’ video preview. See you Saturday!