veggie gardening

How is it almost June already?! It doesn’t feel like it! Mild temperatures and wonderful rainfall are making our transition into summer a breeze. Here are our top priorities in the garden this month, including what to plant, how to adjust watering, pests to watch out for, and how to keep plant roots cool and happy. Plus, we’re hosting lots of fun events throughout the month!

1. Water Low & Slow to Maintain Depth Moisture

Our goal this month is to maintain the depth moisture that recent rains have created. It’s much easier and takes far less water to maintain that depth moisture than it does to build it back up again if we let the soil get too dry. The key is watering low, as in as in low to the ground to avoid evaporation, and slow as in not with your hose open full-blast. This helps decrease runoff and get more water down to the roots. Consider setting up your own automatic drip irrigation system – they’re easy to DIY and they operate on the low & slow principle. Also, be sure to use the cycle & soak method, which simply means water once, let it soak in for several minutes, then come back and water again. This makes sure you’re pushing water down deep.

Pro tip: Use a moisture meter in your landscape beds and pots! We carry them for around $10 and can show you how easy they are to use. They have a long soil probe that tells you whether you actually have good moisture (or too much) down deep where it’s needed. They’ve saved many plants!

2. Keep Soil Moist & Roots Cool with Mulch

A good mulch layer (2-3″ deep) has so many benefits. It looks amazing, keeps weeds down, helps retain moisture, adds organic matter to the soil, AND keeps plant roots nice and cool in the summer. Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories shared amazing results with us from a mulch study they conducted in San Antonio a few years back. Soil temperatures were measured at 6″ deep (where plant roots live) on a 105 F summer day. Bare soil, 6″ down was 102 F. Soil under grass was 92 F. Soil beneath a 3″ layer of mulch was only 76 F!! Mulch your beds! Mulch also makes a great placeholder while you’re still deciding what to plant.

3. Plant Blooming Perennials for Summer!

So many of our favorite plants for South Texas don’t just tolerate warm weather, they only begin to thrive and look their best in the summer. Think of blooming perennials like Firebush, Esperanza, and Pride of Barbados for awesome summer impact. Think of big purslane hanging baskets, Gomphrena, and Periwinkles for bursts of bright color. And browse our Texas native plant section for plants and trees that have thrived through hundreds and even thousands of Texas summers. If you’re still wanting to plant food, you can do that too – okra, basil, eggplant, thyme, watermelon, peppers, black-eyed peas and more are great planted in June.

4. Watch for Summer Bugs, Critters, and Plant Disease

Yes, bad bugs will be around more during the Summer, but don’t treat unless there’s significant damage. We can help identify the pest and if/how to treat. You don’t want to kill too many good bugs while trying to take care of the bad bugs! If you see brown areas in the lawn that are easily pulled up, it’s usually a sign of grubs eating the roots of your grass. You can control grubs with Bonide Insect and Grub Control. Chinch bugs love hot dry areas in lawns. They make the lawn look dried out along sidewalks and pavement. Spot-treat those areas with Cyonara in easy ready-to-spray bottles. For organic control, use Spinosad or Diatomaceous Earth. We’ve also seen a lot more caterpillars than usual this spring munching on veggie gardens. Just a few caterpillars can be relocated, but if you have a lot destroying your plants, you can treat with organic Bt in liquid spray or powder form.

5. Stay Tuned for Fun June Events at Gill’s!

We’ve been overwhelmed with the response to all our events this spring and we’re not stopping! We absolutely love hosting you all, not just for plant shopping, but for learning and building our wonderful local gardening community. We’ve got a big June planned starting with a Gulf Coast Humane Society pet adoption day on June 6th, then flower bingo, plant trivia night, our 2nd annual Father’s Day cookout, and another Nightbloom Market on June 25th! Stay tuned here for updates.

Many of us at Gill’s have been talking about how spoiled our plants at home have become with all the wonderful rainfall we had in May and June. It seems now that we’ve been having some real summer weather in July, some plants are being dramatic and extra tired-looking. Fortunately, there’s a simple, natural tool that gardeners around the world have relied on for decades: liquid seaweed. Think of it as a wellness tonic rather than a meal. It won’t replace fertilizer or water, but it can help fortify plants against summer stress. Here’s how.

Why Does Liquid Seaweed Work?

Unlike fertilizers, liquid seaweed contains relatively low levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Instead, its magic lies in an incredible collection of naturally occurring compounds. Seaweed contains natural plant growth regulators (including compounds similar to cytokinins and auxins) as well as amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds that help plants respond more effectively to environmental stress.

Plants under heat stress produce excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS), often called “free radicals.” These unstable molecules damage plant cells, slow photosynthesis, and accelerate aging. Seaweed strengthens cell walls and helps plants by increasing antioxidant activity that helps neutralize damaging free radicals. Liquid seaweed also promotes root branching and fine root development, helping plants access water more efficiently during dry periods.

How to Apply Liquid Seaweed

Spray directly onto the leaves as a foliar spray to allow plants to absorb all the beneficial compounds quickly. Aim to coat both the tops and undersides of leaves without causing runoff. Or use as a soil drench: pour diluted seaweed around the root zone to encourage healthy root growth and support beneficial soil microbes. Many gardeners alternate between foliar sprays and soil drenches throughout the summer about every 2-4 weeks. Spray in the early morning or late evening – avoid applying during the hottest part of the day.

Most garden and landscape plants respond well to liquid seaweed, including veggies, herbs, blooming perennials, houseplants, annual flowers, fruit trees, shrubs, and even lawns. Avoid applying seaweed to agaves, cacti, succulents, and tender new seedlings.

Pair Liquid Seaweed With Mulch for Maximum Protection

A winning combination for summer is to pair regular liquid seaweed applications with a good 2-4 inch layer of natural mulch. Together, these help reduce water loss, encourage deep roots, and allow plants to remain productive through prolonged hot weather.

Temperatures don’t feel like it yet, but it’s time to start making the transition into an exciting new fall planting season! There’s a lot to do in August to set yourself up for big garden success this fall and beyond. Here are our top must-do’s!

1. Pick Out Your Fall Veggie and Flower Seeds!

August is the time to start your fall veggie seeds! Next week, we’ll receive the new 2025-2026 seeds from our favorite seed suppliers, including heirloom vegetables, brand new releases, and wildflower seeds. Try Cow Pots (cattle manure pots) or seed starting trays to start seeds indoors this month, move to a covered patio once they sprout, then into your garden beds once they’re robust enough to live outside. This will protect the seedlings and slowly acclimate them to outdoor temps. Our Fall Vegetable Planting Guide provides the specific seed-planting dates to help plan your fall garden. Remember – if you want bountiful fall veggies, you need to get an early start!

2. Start Planting Now for Fall Pollinators!

Don’t wait until fall arrives to start planting for fall pollinators – start cooking now so their meal will be ready when they arrive! Important fact: birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, and small mammals that pollinate plants are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food worldwide. Plants attract and provide food for them to keep the cycle going. For example – plant Zinnia and sunflower seeds now, and they’ll be ready to feed migrating birds this fall. Plant salvias now, get roots established, and they’ll be gorgeous this fall and covered in hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. If you want to provide the best benefits for the most pollinators, plant Texas natives!

3. Prep Your Garden Beds

August is the time to start prepping fall veggie beds! Finish your Summer harvesting, clean out your beds, and pull weeds. To get your soil ready, we recommend mixing Nature’s Blend Compost or Cotton Burr Compost into your soil to replenish nutrients and loosen the soil before planting. About 1 bag per 12 sq. ft. is good. Once prepped, add a thick layer of pine straw or hardwood mulch, which will help retain moisture, keep weeds from sprouting, and keep the soil cooler until you’re ready to plant. As you plan your space, think crop rotation – don’t plant the same veggies in the exact same place you planted them last season, or you encourage pests and diseases.

4. Water to Maintain Depth Moisture!

We’ve been lucky to have some well-timed rain showers this summer, which has created some depth moisture in the soil. Our goal with watering this month should be to maintain it. For lawns and established plants and trees, this means watering less frequently, but watering deeply when you water. New plantings will require water every day for the first couple weeks to get the roots established, but again, think deep drinks so the roots dive deeper. Use a water wand with a cut-off valve to make it easy on you and conserve water. Pro tip: Conserve water by watering at ground level, not spraying from above. This way, water soaks down to the roots rather than evaporating off the leaves.

5. Mulch = Cool Roots, Dude!

Proper mulching using natural Hardwood or Pine Straw mulch has big benefits, especially during hot weather. A good 3” deep layer of mulch will keep your plants and the soil moist and cool for longer after you water or after it rains. Not just a little cooler – we’re talking more than 25 degrees cooler!! Cooler soil temps allow plant roots and beneficial microorganisms in the soil to flourish. When mulching, give the main trunks or stems of your plants a little space – mulch 3” deep throughout the bed, but no more than 1” deep right up against the main trunks/stems of plants.

With slightly cooler temps ahead, rain in the forecast, and all our fav veggies arriving, we’re majorly in the mood for fall gardening! Even though it’s still warm out, right now is the time to plant your fall veggie garden to ensure you can get a good harvest. Here’s our guide to growing the best veggies this fall – plenty for you and plenty to share!

1. Pick Your Plants – Know Your Timing!

Last chance to plant tomatoes and peppers! The average tomato needs 60-90 days to mature and produce fruit. That means they’ll be ready around the mid-late November if we plant now. Similarly, most peppers need 60-80 days to maturity. Be sure to get them planted now or very soon so you can get a good harvest before we have chances of cold weather which tomatoes and peppers can’t handle. While we’re reaching the end of the window to plant tomatoes and peppers, cool weather veggies like broccoli, cabbage, kale, Swiss chard, and cauliflower are just arriving! Even though these can handle cooler temps, you still need to get them in the ground in September to ensure you’ll get a good harvest. Radish and carrot seeds should be started this month as well. Take a look at our Fall veggie planting schedule. And save space for citrus trees, figs, and other fruits! They’ll all be arriving this week and next!

2. Prep and Amend Your Soil

Corpus Christi clay soil and sandy soil in Rockport or on the island both need a boost to make them suitable for growing veggies. Very simple – add compost! Whether you’re in clay or sand, we recommend 1 bag of Nature’s Blend compost per 12 square feet to establish a veggie bed. Just work the compost into the first 6-8 inches of the native soil and you’ll have a nice loose and bioactive mix ready for planting. You can use the same rough formula when filling raised beds, or use our Gardener’s Magic soil blend which is formulated for raised beds and already has the compost and other nutrients mixed in – just pour and plant! You can add even more life to your veggie soil by supplementing with earthworm castings, dried molasses, and Bio-Tone starter fertilizer with mycorrhizal fungi. Think of these as probiotics for your soil. Just like our gut microbiome keeps us healthy and balanced, an active soil microbiome will help your veggie plants perform optimally…bigger root systems and more fruit!

3. Give Your Plants Good Spacing and Support

If you’re following this guide, get ready for big growth! Be sure to give your plants adequate spacing to grow to their mature size. For example, tomatoes should be planted a good 4 feet apart, peppers should be 2.5-3 feet apart, and cucumbers, squash, broccoli, and cauliflower should be planted 18″ apart. Good spacing not only gives them room to grow to their full potential, but also ensures good airflow around the plants and helps prevent pest outbreaks. While plants are small, add/build your support structures! We carry tomato cages, wooden trellises, pre-made bamboo trellises, and bamboo poles or t-posts if you want to build your own. And be sure to have some good flexible garden tie tape!

4. Water Early & Often + Mulch

New veggie plants need water every day, preferably in the morning. Once established, you can water some plants less frequently. The best thing to do is to check your garden every day. You’ll get a good sense for which plants are thirstier than others. Soaker hoses can be a big help. Just snake them through your veggie beds and turn on the tap or use a timer. When watering by hand, think like a soaker hose – water slowly and gently at soil level. Watering over the top of your plants or splashing soil up onto the plants invites fungal disease and pests. A good mulch layer can help prevent soil from splashing up onto your plants, plus prevent weeds and help retain moisture. We love pine straw mulch for veggie gardens because its so easy to work with and it does a great job at suppressing weeds.

5. Fertilize Regularly

If you want your veggies to feed you, you gotta feed them! Plants require LOTS of energy to produce fruit. If you take anything away from this blog, remember DeAnna’s organic fertilizer regimen: granular Plant Tone or Medina Growin Green on the 1st of the month, followed up by liquid Hasta Gro on the 15th. The granular fertilizer will slowly break down and feed your roots, while the liquid Hasta Gro sprayed over the leaves will make the foliage thick and strong. If you want strong plants and amazing veggie production, follow this schedule!

6. Be Ready for Pests

Insect pests in the veggie garden are pretty much inevitable, but controllable. Just like watering, the best way to control pests in the veggie garden is to inspect your plants every day and catch any problems early. We recommend having these 3 organic products on hand: Bt for caterpillars, diatomaceous earth for crawling insects like ants, and spinosad soap for beetles, aphids, and spider mites. If you’re not sure what’s eating your veggies, send us a photo or bring in a sample and we can identify and help you control.

7. Harvest Consistently!

If you follow this guide, you’re going to be set up for a bountiful harvest! It’s very important to harvest regularly so you get to enjoy all your efforts. Some veggies, like beans, squash, and cucumbers will need to be harvested daily! If you’ve grown cucumbers before, you know that one day they’ll look perfect and ripe, then the next day they’ll be twice the size and beyond their prime – huge and fibrous and flavorless. Keep in mind that birds, bugs, and other critters like ripe fruit too. Harvest it before they do! When you harvest regularly, you’re also signaling to the plant to redirect energy and produce more fruit.