The Gill’s Garden Talk series continues this Saturday, 2/18/23 at 10am! Join us for Organic Veggie Gardening: Promoting Life with Wyatt Page, Gill’s Assistant Manager and passionate veggie gardener! Wyatt has an impressive garden at home and spends his days talking veggies here at Gill’s. He’ll share all kinds of tips for better food production, safe pest prevention, veggie garden design, and more. Bring your veggie questions. One attendee will win a $100 Gill’s gift card, and we’ll do some other giveaways too! Watch Wyatt’s video invitation and tomato tips below – see you Saturday!
Veggies
Have you noticed lots of holes and chunks missing from the leaves of your fall veggies like cabbage, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower? These are delicacies for caterpillars! A little snacking is nothing to worry about, but here’s how to prevent a feast!
First, decide for yourself how much caterpillar snacking you can tolerate. If it’s a few holes here and there, you might leave them alone or try to find and relocate them. If you decide it’s time to treat, bacteria is your friend. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a naturally occurring bacteria that targets caterpillars but is safe and harmless for humans, pets, birds, and other wildlife. We carry it in a spray (Captain Jack’s Bt) or a powder form (Dipel Dust) – same active ingredient that works when caterpillars eat it. Some folks prefer the spray because you can spray all over the plant, up under the leaves, etc. Some prefer the dust because it’s easy to sprinkle over the plant. Both work great!
November is one of our most beautiful months in South Texas – nice weather for spending time outdoors! Now’s the time for fall flowers and planting trees! And there’s still time for veggies, too. Good timing this month will keep us looking good through the fall and winter and set us up for showtime next spring. Here are our top must-do’s for November.
Check out our November 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. Fill Pots and Spots with Fall Flowers
Here’s our list of Fall/Winter flowers – tons of choices for outdoor color to redo pots & inground plantings. Flowers take a little time to grow and bloom. Plant early this month so they can be WOW for the holidays! Many of these fall flowers, like Petunias, Lobelia, and Geraniums will looks great through the winter and look their very best next spring. Good reason to plant now! Once they’re all planted, give them a good meal of granular organic Rose Glo. To keep them growing and blooming through the fall and winter, they’ll need regular feedings about once a month. For an extra boost, follow up with liquid Hasta Gro in between your monthly feedings.
2. Plant Trees and Shrubs Now for Better Growth Next Spring
Now is the very best time to plant cold-hardy shrubs and trees! They focus energy this fall and winter on building a good root system, which allows them to explode with growth next spring, and prepares them to withstand hot weather next summer. Other benefits to planting now – easier digging and not as much watering as during warmer seasons! Always fertilize when you plant and follow our watering instructions.
3. Still Time to Plant Veggies!
We’re still bringing in lots of fresh cool-season crops like broccoli, kale, lettuce mixes, Swiss chard, spinach, cauliflower, beets, onions, and more! Three big tips for fall/winter veggies: 1) Mulch well to help protect tender young veggies 2) Water well, but not too much 3) Keep feeding! Organic Plant Tone or Medina Growin Green once a month, followed by liquid Hasta Gro every 2 weeks for a bountiful harvest!
4. Last Chance Lawn Care
Early this month is our last chance to fertilize aka “winterize” lawns for strong roots and healthy growth next spring and summer. Our tried and true favorite lawn food is organic Medina Growin Green. November is also the time to prevent spring weeds in your lawn by applying Weed Beater Complete or Hi-Yield Weed & Grass Stopper with Dimension.
Read: Fall Lawn Care
5. Feed Your Landscape Too!
Landscape plants, including trees, perennials, and hardy shrubs need food early this month while they are still actively growing. Just like lawns, the idea is to give them a boost before they head into dormancy this winter. We love organic granular fertilizer Medina Growin’ Green for trees and shrubs, and Rose Glo or Plant Tone for blooming perennials.
6. Plant Herbs to Share and Use for the Holidays
Cooking without herbs is a waste of thyme! Sage, Rosemary, Cilantro, Parsley, Fennel, Dill, (and Thyme) are just a few herbs that thrive in our cool season. Limited space? A sunny spot, container & a few favorite herbs is all you need. We can even pot them up for you. A container herb garden makes a great gift…
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!!
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 1st of each month, and again with liquid Hasta Gro on the 15th. 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!
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!
Say hello to our BEST gardening season here in the Coastal Bend! September is the time to plant almost everything! And the recent rain is FANTASTIC news for getting started! Here are our top must-do’s this month as we head into our favorite planting season.
Check out our September 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. Ready, Set, PLANT Veggies, Herbs, Citrus, and Fruits!
It’s time! Tomatoes, peppers, & warm weather edibles should be planted by now, or at least early this month. Plant cool weather veggies & herbs anytime this month and remember to shelter them from still-intense sun and keep watered. When planting, you can’t go wrong with organic BioTone starter fertilizer + a good handful of Earthworm Castings. Neither of these require precise measurement, and they make an incredible combo for building stronger, deeper roots, preventing pests, and creating the perfect soil environment for plants to thrive.
Here’s our Fall veggie planting schedule. And save space for citrus trees, figs, and other fruits to round off your garden grocery store! Revisit Josh’s guide to planting citrus trees.
2. Plant Trees and Shrubs for the BEST Start
Plants that are cold hardy (trees and woody shrubs) will benefit greatly by planting during our fall season. They’re under less heat stress, and they grow more roots through the fall and winter, making them stronger and ready to take off next spring. More roots, stronger plants, better success! Oak trees, Crape Myrtles, Hawthorns, Lantana, Plumbago, Boxwoods and a host of other trees and shrubs should be planted starting this month.
3. Plant to Support Pollinators!
We’re bringing in lots of new plants this month with our pollinator friends in mind! While you’re choosing what to plant, consider adding Texas Natives like Turk’s Cap and Lantana that birds and bees love. If you want to attract and support butterflies, try native butterfly weed, Gregg’s mist flower, and lots of different blooming salvias. So many gorgeous options!
4. Set the Table for the Fall Hummingbird Migration!
Ruby-throated hummingbirds will soon make their way through for the fall migration! These tiny birds are BIG eaters. They stop here in the Coastal Bend to fuel up before their non-stop flight across the Gulf of Mexico. Host them in your yard by planting some of their favorite foods! Hummingbirds find plants using their excellent vision and are attracted to bright colored blooms, which indicate a high-sugar food source. Some of our favs for South Texas are Flame Acanthus (aka hummingbird bush), Salvias (like native Salvia greggii and Salvia leucantha), Cape Honeysuckle, Firecracker plant, Coral bean – the list goes on! Plant a few of these and hummingbirds will find them. And don’t forget to visit the Rockport-Fulton HummerBird Celebration September 14-17!
5. Make Way for New Growth with Light Pruning and Clean-up
Chances are you have established plants that could benefit from a clean-up after working so hard all summer. Wait until about September 15th and give them a light pruning to make way for new growth this fall. A good rule of thumb for most plants is to prune up to 1/3 (not more) in the fall, then wait until January to do a heavy pruning/cutback. If you have questions about how to prune specific plants, you know who to call!
6. Trap and Prevent Mosquitos
Setting simple traps with organic Mosquito Dunks or Mosquito Bits is perhaps the most effective method for controlling mosquitos. It couldn’t be easier – grab a 5-gallon bucket, fill it with water and add a few handfuls of straw, leaves, weeds, food waste, etc. This will start to stagnate and attract female mosquitos to lay their eggs. After a day or 2, toss in a Mosquito dunk or a spoonful of mosquito bits which will kill the mosquito larvae. Try a few traps plus some repellant granules and incense!
7. You’re Invited! Gill Garden Talks and Events in September!
Gill Garden Talks and Events are back! We’re kicking it off with a kids seed starting workshop on September 9th. Stay tuned here and on Instagram and Facebook for details of each event. Can’t wait!
After some much-needed rain this week, we are beyond excited for fall! We’ve got some awesome talks and events planned for September to kick off the best gardening season. Here’s a preview – mark your calendar!
Kids’ Fall Seed Starting Workshop – September 9th
We’re kicking off the fall season with a hands-on seed starting workshop for kids – all ages welcome! Join us Saturday, September 9th at 10am here at Gill’s to learn how to start seeds! Each participant can choose seeds and fill up to 12 cells in their compostable egg crate to take home and plant in their garden. We’ll be here to help start the seeds and provide instructions for how to care for the seedlings once they sprout. Growing veggies from seed is SO rewarding and an awesome life skill. And early-mid September is the time to start all kinds of fall veggie seeds like corn, broccoli, kale, carrots, beets, and more!
Tree Planting 101 with John Wood of Tree Amigos – September 16th
Tree Amigos is our go-to source for tree trimming, removal, and consultation in our area. Fall is our best time to plant trees, and we’re excited to welcome John Wood, Tree Amigos owner and certified arborist for a tree talk here at Gill’s on September 16th at 10am that’s guaranteed to be fun and informative. Here’s what John has to say about his talk:
“If you read 10 different books on how to plant a tree, not a single one of them will be able to agree with the others on how it should be done. However, they can all agree that however you are doing it is the wrong way! Come meet us at Gill’s and let’s get this sorted out. Join us for 1 entertaining hour to cover the condensed version of how to plant trees the right way.”
Fall Veggie Gardening with Andy Chidester of Medina Ag Products – September 23rd
We are thrilled to have our garden pal and organic gardening expert, Andy Chidester as a guest speaker here at Gill’s on September 23rd! Andy is our main contact at Medina Ag Products, makers of our favorite fertilizers, Medina Growin Green and Hasta Gro! She’ll discuss bed prep, what vegetables and herbs you should be growing, how to attracting beneficials 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!”
After Hours Terrarium Building Workshop with Ori and Rose – September 28th
Join us Thursday evening, September 28th, from 6-7:30pm for our hands-on beginner terrarium building workshop! We’ll have stations set up indoors with terrarium containers, starter plants, moss, and supplies + drinks and bites! Come build something totally unique. Pricing and more info TBD!
