We survived the cold snap

lettuce and peppers


Peppers ready to bloom


I see tomatoes

Has the the cold snap hurt my plants?

We've had a very wet and cold week. Rain and temperatures in the 40's and 50's. Today it is finally sunny and warm. Looks like my plants have all held up well.

I believe that unless the temperatures fell below 35F, there probably is no permanent damage to the plants. Just give them a week or two to recover. They should then produce a normal harvest. It's just that it will be a couple of weeks later than normal. If you had just transplanted very small plants, they may go through a shock period but should do fine.

My tomatoes still have blooms but overall look pretty good.

How my garden grows

Pictures from this morning.

Cilantro, parsley, basil, marjoram are doing nicely.

Romaine lettuce is looking lush.
Yellow pepper has a bloom.
Potted tomatoes are blooming.

I also planted 3 more tomatoes in my empty earthbox container just before the rain arrived.

Houston area spring planting guide

Planting Guide

Asparagus. 36-48 inches between rows; 12-18 between plants; plant after Feb. 1; 360-730 days to maturity.

Beets. 12-24 inches between rows; 2-3 inches between plants; plant Feb. 1-May 15; 60-70 days to maturity.

Cabbage. 24-30 inches between rows. 12-20 inches between plants; plant Feb. 1-March 1;70-100 days to maturity.

Carrots. 12-24 inches between rows. 2 inches between plants; plant Jan. 15-March 1; 80-90 days to maturity.

Cauliflower. 24-30 inches between rows. 12-20 inches between plants; plant Feb.1-March 1; 80-100 days to maturity.

Lettuce. 12-24 inches between rows. 2-3 inches between plants; plant Feb. 1-April 1; 50-90 days to maturity.

Peas (English). 18-30 inches between rows. 1 inch between plants; plant Feb. 1-Feb. 17; 65-105 days to maturity.

Potatoes (Irish). 24-36 inches between rows. 8-12 inches between plants; plant Feb. 15-March 1; 90-110 days to maturity.

Radishes. 12-24 inches between rows. 1 inch between plants; plant Feb. 1-May 1; 35-50 days to maturity.

Spring planting guide

Beans (Snap bush). 18-30 inches between rows; 3-4 inches between plants; plant March 5-May 1; days to maturity 50-70.

Beans (Snap pole). 24-30 inches between rows; 12-18 inches between plants; plant March 5-April 15; days to maturity 50-90.

Beans (Lima bush). 30-36 inches between rows; 3-4 inches between plants; plant March 15-April 15; days to maturity 65-80.

Cantaloupe. 60-96 inches between rows; 24-36 inches between plants; plant March 15-April 15; 85-100 days to maturity.

Collards. 12-24 inches between rows; 6-12 inches between plants; plant Feb. 1-March 25; 60-90 days to maturity.

Corn (Sweet). 24-36 inches between rows; 8-12 inches between plants; plant Feb. 25-April 15; 80-100 days to maturity.

Cucumber. 36-48 inches between rows; 18-36 inches between plants; plant March 5-April 15; 60-80 days to maturity.

Eggplant. 18-30 inches between rows; 18-24 inches between plants; plant March 15-April 10; 90-100 days to maturity.

Kohlrabi. 12-24 inches between rows; 3-5 inches between plants; plant Feb. 1-March 1; 65-85 days to maturity.

Mustard. 12-24 inches between rows; 4-8 inches between plants; plant Feb. 1-April 1; 40-50 days to maturity.

Okra. 30-40 inches between rows; 18-24 inches between plants; plant April 1-July 15; 65-75 days to maturity.

Onion. 12-24 inches between rows; 2-3 inches between plants; plant Feb. 1-March 1; 90-130 days to maturity.

Peas (Southern). 24-36 inches between rows; 3-5 inches between plants; plant March 25-May 1; 70-90 days to maturity.

Pepper. 24-36 inches between rows; 18-24 inches between plants; plant March 15-April 10; 70-100 days to maturity.

Potatoes (Sweet). 30-36 inches between rows; 10-14 inches between plants; plant April 10-June 1; 110-140 days to maturity.

Pumpkin. 60-96 inches between rows; 36-48 inches between plants; plant April 1-May 1; 75-100 days to maturity.

Spinach. 12-24 inches between rows; 3-4 inches between plants; plant Jan. 1-Feb. 15; 50-70 days to maturity.

Squash (Summer). 30-40 inches between rows; 14-30 inches between plants; plant March 5-May 1; 60-70 days to maturity.

Tomatoes. 24-40 inches between rows; 18-30 inches between plants; March 15-April 10; 80-100 days to maturity.

Turnips. 12-24 inches between rows; 2-3 inches between plants; plant Feb. 1-May 1; 40-70 days to maturity.

Watermelon. 72-96 inches between rows; 36-72 inches between plants; plant Feb. 20-April 1; 80-100 days to maturity.

Transplants Source: Harris County Agricultural Extension Service Chronicle

So far sow good

I know I disappeared for the winter but I just had so much going on. Yada yada yada.

Well, my fall tomatoes grew well and produced a nice crop but the squash and peas were a bust. So I am trying a few new things this season. I actually have one of my tomato plants coming back. I added another tomato plant to the container. Oh and by the way, remember the Veggie Tomato Supports I used were just terrible. I am going to use something else this year. Just the plain cheap metal cages.
last season's tomatoe

New tomato

I am also trying to grow some herbs which I have started.
Parsley, Cilantro, Marjoram, Basil
Marjoram, Sage, Basil



Rosemary

Here are the yellow pepper, red pepper, tomatoes, and lettuce I planted in the ground, yes I am trying the ground for these you heard right. I added some good soil, dolomite and fertilizer to the bed and planted my plants.

Puttin up

This is something I posted on another one of my blogs a few months ago. I also made fresh pasta sauce with all of the tomatoes I grew in the fall.

In my life I do alot of "Puttin' Up". This time I am "Puttin Up" in the old fashion sense of the phrase... storing food, canning, freezing and such. Since I like to cook I often need fresh red, yellow, and green peppers but only a small amount of each. I got tired of having to throw out the unused portions so now I buy a bunch, chop them up with onion, put them into these mini muffin pans. I then put the pans in the freezer to freeze them then take them out of the pans and put them into freezer bags. Now I alway have them ready to add to whatever I am making!!! Ta da!!!