1. Avoid Sunstroke: We've clearly entered yet another merciless summer
with temperatures of 107 already on record at the airport. As the mercury
soars, top priority must be to take care of ourselves. For gardeners
to flourish in these adverse conditions, we need a little morning sun, deep
shade for the rest of the day, and a profound daily watering. Without this, you
can end up in the hospital as your body's cooling system shuts down.
(It can can be fatal. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperthermia)
Three rules for central Texas gardeners:
A..Wear effective sunscreen and a large brimmed hat.
B. Garden early in the morning.
C. Drink gallons and gallons of water. (We have cups of iced water on
hand for anyone visiting the nursery this month. )
2. Mulch Keep all flowerbeds, vegetable gardens and trees mulched. This
will conserve water, cool the root zone and generally relieve heat stress.
3. Water Your plants will need this to survive. Not just a splash on the
surface… but a deep 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. Mow High Choose the highest setting for your mower. Longer grass
blades will help shade the roots and conserve water.
5.Vegetable Garden This is 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.
6. 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).
Happy Gardening Everyone! Chris
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The annual Austin Chronicle's "Best of Austin" awards are
upon us again. Will you please take a moment to nominate your favorite garden
center? Vote online under the title 'shopping': gardening store
http://www.austinchronicle.com/feedback/bestof/09/
![ItsAboutThyme_logo[1] by you.](https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/3680390926_a47790c3da.jpg?v=0)
Visit the website at www.itsaboutthyme.com Visit the
nursery at 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748 Tel. 512 280 1192
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