tel: 512-280-1192 Friday, July 5 2013
Nursery notes: rose madness sale continues one final week! 50%
off all antique and knock-out roses: antiques reg. $19.99 2 gal.,
knock-outs reg. $24.99 2 gal. 20% off all gift shop items. / 25% off
all hanging baskets including vinca, purslane, fan flower, Swedish
ivy, potato vine, begonia, petunia, million bells (reg. $14.99), chenille
(reg. $12.99), bougainvilleas (reg. $24.99). 25% off all annuals.
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Fall Tomato Growers Success Seminar 1 p.m. next Sunday (July
14). Learn from expert south Texas tomato farmer Kevin Callaway
how to grow a bumper crop this fall. Topics will include top varieties,
soil conditions, organic fertilizers, and use of hoop houses for extra
climate control. Kevin will also be at the nursery on Saturday, July
13, to answer any individual questions. (Free)
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Using color theory in the garden is "a lot of hooey," claims Tom
Fischer in his blog Overplanted. When he tried pairing true blue with
pale yellow, 'the whole thing wound up being about as exciting as the
Swedish flag on a windless day.' Read more at overplanted .
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Central Texas Gardener KLRU TV. Go a little wild with the kids!
Master Naturalist Meredith O’Reilly shows off fun outdoor projects
for kids of all ages. On tour, visit Helen Roberts’ wildlife haven for
kids. Sat. noon, 4 p.m. or Sun. at 9 a.m. www.klru
Gazpacho: a Perfect Summer Soup
by Mick Vann
Chill all ingredients first to make it easier to chill before service. You can
peel and seed the tomatoes if you insist, but why bother.
2 cups tomato juice or V8
2 pounds vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped
2 cups tomato juice or V8
2 pounds vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped
1 - 1½ cups cucumber, peeled, seeded, chopped
½ cup red onion, minced
3-5 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 large jalapeño, de-ribbed and seeded, minced
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1½ tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Spanish paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Kosher or sea salt
2 tablespoons basil or cilantro, chiffonade
½ cup red onion, minced
3-5 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 large jalapeño, de-ribbed and seeded, minced
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1½ tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Spanish paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Kosher or sea salt
2 tablespoons basil or cilantro, chiffonade
(To chiffonade, stack the leaves and roll them into a tube, and then care-
fully cut across the ends of the tube with your knife to produce a fine strip.)
Garnish:
Avocado, diced
Scallion, minced
Croutons toasted in garlic-flavored olive oil
Combine all ingredients and chill thoroughly. You can add 1 teaspoon
cumin for a more Latino flavor. Poached shrimp, scallops, or crab make
a nice addition. 2 ounces of frosty Tito’s or Sobieski Vodka per bowl
transform it into a nice cocktail.
'Bright Lights Swiss chard is easy to grow, and is often the star of a winter garden.
Six Activities for July
by Chris Winslow
1. Vegetable Garden The timing always feels a bit strange, but this
is actually the month to renew your vegetable garden for the fall
harvest season. From seed, plant snap and lima beans, sweet corn,
Swiss chard, cucumbers, summer and winter squash (my favorite),
black-eyed peas, okra, cantaloupe, pumpkin and watermelon. For
transplants, it’s the right time for tomatoes and peppers.
2. Tomatoes Be sure to plant determinate varieties with reputations
for heat survival. (Spot the clues in their names.) My favorites are
surefire, solar fire, solar flare, celebrity, heatwave, sunmaster, and
BHN444 (healthy surprise).
3. Water Your plants will need this to survive. Not just a splash on
the surface… but rather a profound watering. This will give them a
more established root system and a better reservoir to draw from.
Try to water on a 4 to 5 day schedule. Don’t run automatic sprinkler
systems during the day. (Loss to evaporation is too great.)
4. Mulch Keep all flowerbeds, vegetable gardens and trees mulched.
This will conserve water, cool the root zone and generally relieve
heat stress.
5. Mow High Choose the highest setting for your mower. Longer
grass blades will help shade the roots and conserve water.
6. Survive! Want to avoid heatstroke? Three rules for central Texas
gardeners: a.Wear effective sunscreen and a large brimmed hat. b.
Garden early in the morning. c. Drink gallons upon gallons of water.
Happy gardening everyone!
Visit the website: www.itsaboutthyme.com Visit the nursery:11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, 78748
