Category Archives: Garden

Gardening in Texas hardiness Zone 8a

Homestead Hack: Keeping Potted Plants Watered

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by Texas Homesteader 

A sweet friend recently shared with me a pot of chocolate mint.  Oh how I love mint and although most people say it can be an invasive plant I’ve planted various kinds & have never had it survive over a year.  It’s not really a brown-thumb issue, it’s a “planted the house in the hole of plant-life death” issue.  LOL  I have trouble getting any plants, trees or shrubs to survive in our front or back yards.  Must be something in the soil…

So I may plant this mint in a decorative pot on my porch instead, but the blasted heat of summer is here and RancherMan & I are about to leave town for a few days so I dare not plant it outside now.  I can keep it in the house short term, but how will I keep it watered while we’re away?  Check out this Homestead Hack for keeping plants watered.
HOMESTEAD HACK Keeping Plants Watered: How do you keep your household plants watered for a few days while you're away? #TexasHomesteader
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Vegetable Garden Update: July

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by Tammy Taylor

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Well, well, well, what a year it’s been!  First our area of NE Texas was deluged with record weeks-long rain & flooding AFTER I planted my tender seedlings this spring of course and none of them made it.  So when the rain broke I planted seeds directly into the garden, and of course the flooding rain came back killing them as well before they even got a start.   Not to be deterred I planted yet a third time, in some cases buying young seedlings since there was no longer enough time for a plant to germinate, grow & produce before the season was up.  Then came the Texas summer heat & grasshoppers!  REALLY??!  It’s almost like Mother Nature has decided I shouldn’t have a garden this year.  But I’m a pretty determined gal – see how I’ve fought back…

Come with me for a stroll through my veggie garden. There are some difficulties but some successes as well! #TexasHomesteader

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Homestead Hack: Protect Plants From Free-Range Hens

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by Texas Homesteader

One day I saw that our free-range hens had been in the planted beds scratching the mulch and in the process scratching & eating my plants. Gggrrrrr… Let’s see, what can I do to protect these seedlings as they grow?

Say it with me kids – use what you’ve got! Check out the Homestead Hack I used to successfully protect my seedlings from our free-range hens.

Protect Your Plants From Free-Range Hens. Check out the Homestead Hack I used successfully. Use what you've got! #TexasHomesteader

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Garden Update: June

16 Replies

by Tammy Taylor

 

Well this has been a strange year indeed for the NE Texas gardener.   In May our area received almost daily torrential rainfall and much flooding.  Of course this was AFTER I planted my tender little seedlings from my indoor greenhouse.  I attempted to replant from seed directly into the garden but they drowned as well.  Third time’s a charm…  Come see how my garden’s making out these days…

Come with me for a stroll through my veggie garden. Yes it's been a challenge but I'm determined to harvest at least a small amount this year #TexasHomesteader

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Get Rid Of Squash Bugs Naturally: Effective Tactic for Gardeners

12 Replies

by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Don’t you just hate squash bugs? Me too. They gain their foothold early and decimate your squash plants in no time.

And squash bugs are notoriously difficult to control. The only sure way I know of is to remove all eggs and also both adult and nymph bugs by hand.

Today’s Homestead Hack is timely. Use what ya got! 

Homestead Hack natural was to control squash bugs. #TexasHomesteader

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Unlocking The Secret To Long-Term Potato Storage

45 Replies

by Texas Homesteader ~

Several weeks back a friend & I were talking about gardening. Her family had a huge garden when she was growing up and they relied on it to keep them all fed.

She was quizzing me on the different things I like to plant in my garden and I rattled off all the faves: Tomatoes, garlic, onion, bell peppers, jalapenos, cantaloupe, squash, green beans, etc.

She asked if I ever planted potatoes and I told her that in the past I’d planted them, but I could never successfully store them long term whether garden potatoes or store-bought. I know that freshly-harvested potatoes have to be cured but even when properly curing them, they would sprout within a short time.

She was surprised that I had any trouble keeping them long term and told me that they just used to store their potatoes on the ground in the barn and they lasted all season. I was intrigued…

Storing Potatoes Long-Term: I've heard that you can store potatoes for months on end if you do it right. I need some potato-storage advice! #TexasHomesteader

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