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1 M M G G G G A A Z Z E E T T T T E E MISSION: The mission of the association shall be to organize and promote volunteer efforts that Support Extension programs advancing sound horticultural practices in Nueces County. Nueces Master Gardeners, Inc. Issue 6 June 2014 HTTP://NUECES.AGRILIFE.ORG MG Officers and Elect 2014 President Norma Hernandez (361) 816-8206 ElecElect Deborah Holliday (956) 433-7110 Vice President Debra Martin (361) 815-1867 Elect Alene Burch (361) 334-1021 Secretary Carol Barragy (361) 658-9424 Elect Linda Lamprecht (361) 215-7738 Treasurer/ Bookkeeper Mary Lambert (361) 813-7596 Elect Theresa Stelzig (361) 643-6491 Publicity ALL MASTER GARDENERS Gazette Editor Jenny Mohundro [email protected] (361) 850-7904 Ex-Officio Stephanie Martin (361) 814-7776 Members-at- large DeAnna Baumgartner, Betty Rogers, Gary Martin State Directors Jenny Mohundro, Carlos Valdez Extension Office Lisa Martinez (361) 767-5217 MG Helpline (361) 767-5250 Plant Cantaloupe Botanical Name Cucumis melo June Topics MG Officers President’s Corner Happenings Agent’s Notes June Lunch Meeting Dates Orientation Day Thinking of You Birthdays Volunteer Hours Garden Council MG Containers Volunteer Opportunities Plumaria Auction MG’s In Action Fruit & Veg. Month Recipes Nutrient Information Fall Veggie Garden Composter Training Growing cantaloupe and honeydew at home is so rewarding, as they offer an explosive taste that doesn’t compare to their store-bought cousins. The key is plenty of moisture, sunlight, and heat. Melons demand two to three months of heat. These sun- ripened fruits pack plenty of vitamin C and antioxidants into every bite, combining great taste with great nutrition. Editor’s Note: I fondly remember an extremely hot June day when my husband and I were helping my dad build his new home in the Hill Country. A neighbor whom we did not know saw us working and dropped off a cooler of ice cold, cut up cantaloupe from his garden. It was so welcome and so refreshing. What a friendly way to greet a new neighbor! Elect

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Page 1: MMGG GGAAZZEETTTTEE

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MMGG GGAAZZEETTTTEE

MISSION: The mission of the association shall be to organize and promote volunteer efforts that

Support Extension programs advancing sound horticultural practices in Nueces County.

Nueces Master Gardeners, Inc. Issue 6 June 2014

,

HHTTTTPP::////NNUUEECCEESS..AAGGRRIILLIIFFEE..OORRGG

MG Officers and Elect

2014

President

Norma Hernandez

(361) 816-8206

ElecElect

Deborah Holliday

(956) 433-7110

Vice President

Debra Martin

(361) 815-1867

Elect Alene Burch (361) 334-1021

Secretary Carol Barragy (361) 658-9424

Elect Linda Lamprecht (361) 215-7738

Treasurer/ Bookkeeper

Mary Lambert (361) 813-7596

Elect Theresa Stelzig (361) 643-6491

Publicity ALL MASTER GARDENERS

Gazette Editor Jenny Mohundro [email protected]

(361) 850-7904

Ex-Officio Stephanie Martin (361) 814-7776

Members-at-large

DeAnna Baumgartner, Betty Rogers, Gary Martin

State Directors

Jenny Mohundro, Carlos Valdez

Extension Office

Lisa Martinez

(361) 767-5217

MG Helpline

(361) 767-5250

Plant Cantaloupe

Botanical Name

Cucumis melo

June Topics

MG Officers President’s Corner Happenings Agent’s Notes June Lunch Meeting Dates Orientation Day Thinking of You Birthdays Volunteer Hours Garden Council MG Containers Volunteer

Opportunities Plumaria Auction MG’s In Action Fruit & Veg. Month Recipes Nutrient Information Fall Veggie Garden

Composter Training

Growing cantaloupe and honeydew at home is so rewarding, as they offer an explosive taste that doesn’t compare to their store-bought cousins. The key is plenty of moisture, sunlight, and heat. Melons demand two to three months of heat. These sun-ripened fruits pack plenty of vitamin C and antioxidants into every bite, combining great taste with great nutrition. Editor’s Note: I fondly remember an extremely hot June day when my husband and I were helping my dad build his new home in the Hill Country. A neighbor whom we did not know saw us working and dropped off a cooler of ice cold, cut up cantaloupe from his garden. It was so welcome and so refreshing. What a friendly way to greet a new neighbor!

Elect

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Other Happenings

June 2014

Wed. Jun 4 *Coastal Bend Cacti & Succulent Society, 7pm, GC, 852-7700 *South Texas Orchid Society, 7pm, GC, 816-1948 Thurs. Jun 5 *Orchid Novice Class, 7pm, BG, 854-7624 *Rose Society, 7pm, GC, 853-7554 Sat. Jun 7 *”Outdoor Entertainment Spaces”, 10am, Airline Gill’s, 992-9674 *”In Lieu of Lawns” seminar, 10am, BG, 852-2100 Mon. Jun 9 thru Fri. Jun 13 *Kids’ Summer Nature Day Camps, BG, 9am-12, ages 5-7, 852-2100 Sat. Jun 14 *”Succulent & Container Gardens”, 10am, Airline Gill’s, 992-9674 Sat. Jun 14 & Sun. Jun 15 *”Taking’ A Walk with my Dad”, BG, 852-2100 Mon. Jun 16 thru Fri. Jun 20 *Kids’ Summer Nature Day Camps, BG, 9am-12, ages 8-10, 852-2100 Tue. Jun 17 *MG Executive and General Meetings, 10am and 12Noon, GC, 816-8206 *”Perpetual Drought?” 12-1pm, brown bag event, Rockport Extension Office, 361-790-0103 Wed. Jun 19 *Bromeliad Society, 7pm, GC, 658-8650 Sat. Jun 21 *”Some Like it Hot!” seminar, 10am, BG, 852-2100 Mon. Jun 23 thru Fri. Jun 27 *Kids’ Summer Nature Day Camps, BG, 9am-12, ages 5-7, 852-2100 Thu. Jun 26 *Bonsai Society, 7pm, GC, 992-0009 BG=Botanical Gardens GC=Garden Center (Greeley Senior Center)

Be sure to note all of the opportunities for

educational hours (601) at the Botanical

Gardens, local nurseries, plant societies

and Master Gardeners’ programs.

(Program portion only)

Congratulations to all the Master Gardeners who certified

and recertified, many earning silver and gold trowels for

their volunteer efforts. Thanks to Rita Phillips for

coordinating the pot luck luncheon. Everything was

delicious.

Debbie Martin and Alene Burch did an outstanding job with

the awards event. They tallied votes working with Betty

Rogers who compiled hours for awards. Additional award

recipients were Rookie of the Year (Ana Abarca, class 23),

GEM (Norma Hernandez, class 21) and Lifetime

Achievement (Jessica Latimer, class 4).

Thorunn Kelley has volunteered to chair the Fall Home and

Garden Show 9-12 thru 9-14. Please contact her to assist

with set up, presentations, Kid Zone, etc. This event will be

an excellent opportunity to accumulate volunteer hours.

Master Gardener Class 25 will take place in Corpus Christi.

Orientation will take place July 23rd

with classes starting

August 6. Volunteers will be needed to provide snacks for

the first class meeting. More information will be given

during the June 15th

MG meeting.

The plumeria mini auction is scheduled for the July 15th

meeting. Deb Houlihan promises a wide variety of

plumerias.

Nueces Master Gardeners Inc has two more specialists

Dennis Britton (fruits and nuts) and Carlos Valdez

(Earthkind). They join Stephanie Martin (propagation),

Sandra Williams (propagation and entomology) and Dennis

who is also a composting specialist. If there are other

specialists I have left out, let me know your specialization to

add to the growing list.

Deb Holliday is our plant auction chairman. Please contact

her with your donations. We will be able to store our plants

in the Ray High School greenhouse. Carlos Valdez has

access to the greenhouse if Deb is not available to pick up

your donations.

Remember to “like” Nueces Master Gardeners Inc on

Facebook to share ideas and pictures with the group.

I look forward to working with all members and thank you to

everyone for all you do for the Nueces Master Gardeners.

Norma Norma Hernandez President 2014 Nueces Master Gardeners, Inc.

President’s Corner

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Howdy! I really enjoyed attending the Horticulture Agent’s retreat that was held in Austin (April 29th-May 2nd). It was hosted by Travis County’s Horticulture Agent, Daphne Richards and it gave me the opportunity to network with the other agents. While I was in Austin I had the opportunity to visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and various other nurseries in the area. On the retreat we were also able to take a tour of the capitol and the capitol grounds. I visited with staffers of Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, Larry Stein and State Representative Abel Herrero. On May 7th and 8th I attended a 2014 Coastal Bend Hurricane Conference that was held at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. There were 619 people who attended! This was a great event to get people prepared for the upcoming hurricane season. I attended a meeting of the City Council’s Tree Advisory Board on May 8th and then had a meeting with Stacie Talbert who is the Assistant Director for the Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Department to discuss future programming. On May 13th I attended a Xeriscape Steering Committee Meeting at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. We discussed the Xeriscape Work day that was to be held on May 17th and the maintenance of the garden. Later that day I also helped host a 4-H Entomology Contest with Meredith Carter who is the 4-H Extension Program Specialist in Nueces County. We had a nice turnout despite the morning’s rain. On May 14th all the agents attended Commissioners Court. A proclamation was read for the 100th Anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914 that created Cooperative Extension Service. The agent’s then presented an award to the Commissioners Court afterwards. On May 15th the Ag/NR agent and I did presentations for an Early Scholars Career Day. Students from Pettus, Bishop, and Orange Grove ISD were present. We really enjoyed talking to the kids! We will be returning three more times this month to do the same presentation but to other independent school districts. On May 20

th I attended the Master Gardener Executive and the Awards

Banquet. I admire all of your hard work! Later that evening I attended the Master Naturalist meeting and gave a presentation on insects. On May 29th the other agents and I attended a Southeast Region Spring Faculty Conference that was held at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in Rosenberg. This month I will be giving presentations, attending numerous meeting and

will help judge the Science Engineering and Technology Posters at the State 4-H Roundup in College Station. Thank you for all that you do!

Jessica Weizer CEA-Horticulture [email protected]

Agent’s Notes

June Meeting Lunch

Deb Houlihan 877-2428 Betty Rogers 877-7060 Lan-Lee Lin 852-5524 Rita Phillips 991-0750

Volunteers are needed for July! Contact Rita Phillips 991-0750

Or e-mail [email protected]

Next MG General Meeting

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Next MG Board of Directors Meeting

June 17th, 10:00 a.m. at GC

(3rd

Tuesday monthly, except December)

Jeanne O’Leary – Surgery

Shirley Whiteside – Diagnosed with Cancer

The following

Master Gardener

needs our caring

thoughts and

support:

Shirley Whiteside upon the death of her beloved husband, Bill

Join us at Orientation Day for our next class of

New Master Gardeners July 23rd, 9:00 a.m.

4639 Corona, Suite 30 Corpus Christi TX

First class day is August 6th 8:00-12:00 noon

At the same location

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I

Ongoing: Ray High School Greenhouse

Behind Ray H.S., Staples & Texan Trail.

Monday Classroom speakers 9:55 & 12:01

Tuesday Greenhouse classes 9:55 & 12:01

Tuesday Botany Club 4:00-5:0 0

Ongoing: Food Bank Project “Outgrow

Hunger” 826 Krill Dr. (Navigation

then right on Savage Lane to Krill).

Tuesdays 8:00a.m.( Except MG meeting day

then Wednesday) Contact: Mary Lambert

813-7596 or e-mail her at

cwlmel@yahoocom

Ongoing: Nature Conservatory, Mon., March 10

& March 24, 4:00 & Blucher Park 5:00 until

sundown.

(Behind the Main Library) Bring gloves,

bug spray, plus a bag lunch & chair if

you plan to stay for our Chat & Chew

time. Contact: Karen Smith 877-9723

Ongoing: Courtyard Maintenance at the

Senior Garden Center, 1st Monday,

9:15 a.m. Contact: Betty Whitt

991-5375

Ongoing: Botanical Gardens,

Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m.

Contact: Jessica Latimer 993-6013 Areas to work:

1. Hummingbird Garden

2. Butterfly Garden (new)

3. Sensory Garden

4. Earth Kind Garden

Check With Michael,

Carol, or Billy for work tasks.

06/01 Huxley Smith Class 16

06/02 Mark Del Bosque Class 23

06/07 Romeo Gonzales Class 22

06/19 Rita Phillips Class 16

06/20 Leland Johnson Class 1

06/20 Deborah Holliday Class 23

Garden Council Meeting

2nd Tuesday, June 10th, 10:00 am Greely Senior Garden Center

Remember, this meeting place for our MG’s is tied to

the success of the Garden Council.

Support them with your attendance and participation every month!

Important! To enter your volunteer hours

in the new on-line system,

use this address!

https://texas.volunteersystem.org

May 20th

MG Meeting Hours

Volunteer Hours

Executive Meeting = 2 hours

Master Gardener Meeting = .5 hours

Time Traveled = Figure your own

Continuing Education Hours

Master Gardener Program = .5 hours

THE STORAGE CONTAINERS ARE NOW GREEN The Nueces Master Gardeners already have pre-built LTG planting beds stored in the containers at the South Texas Botanical Gardens. Thanks to all who joined the Painting and Shelf Building Party. Long term planning is really paying off!

Deb Houlihan is offering plumeria cuttings at the

July Master Gardener Meeting for mini-auction.

Come prepared to spend money, have fun, and

support our Nueces MG organization.

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MG’s Ready to Paint Our MG Storage Containers

The long awaited storage containers

MG Huxley Smith lays out the plan for the MG crew.

Painters Thorunn Kelley, Norma Hernandez, Mary Lambert, and Theresa Stelzig are ready to start.

Baker LTG Gardens Looking Good

Earthkind Garden Benefits Local Ministry

Jessica Latimer and

friend harvested kale from the

Earthkind beds at the Botanical Garden and delivered the

produce to the Timmons Ministry. It was gratefully

received to feed the homeless patrons.

5

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Nueces Master Gardener Awards

At the May meeting of the Nueces Master Gardeners, members received their certification or re-certification awards. Many of them also received silver or gold trowel pins indicating volunteer hours worked at projects around the county. A few received Master Gardener Volunteer Badges, some adorned with a diamond to denote the milestone of 500, 1000, or 5000 hours of volunteer service. Photos of every recipient are not shown because of space restrictions or photo quality. However, each and every Master Gardener who is active in our gardening projects and educational mission are to be congratulated on their dedicated service

to our organization. WE ARE PROUD OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!

Betty Whitt and Sandra Williams have each given 15 years of service to Master Gardeners. Not pictured are Karen Easton and Shirley Whiteside who have also served for 15 years..

Linda Lamprecht was recognized for 5 years of service to Master Gardeners

Not pictured are the following members recognized for 10 years of service: Carol Carroll Paul Carroll Terri Loe

Class 24 Interns Robin Arndt, Sandy Cherniss, Hope Romero, and Certified MG Ronda Dizney

Class 23 Rookie Of The Year

Ana Abarca

A BIG

THANK YOU

To

Debbie Martin

&

Alene Burch

&

Betty Rogers

For Organizing

The

Awards

Presentations

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Our GEM Award Going the Extra Mile Norma Hernandez

Earning a Bronze Badge for 500+ Volunteer Hours:

Carol Barragy, Iris Klaneckey, Phyllis O’Brien, and Lan-Lee Lin Not pictured is Joanne Salge

Earning a Silver Badge for 1000+ Volunteer Hours: Norma Hernandez and Mary Lambert

And Earning

The Gold Badge With A Diamond

FOR 5000+ Volunteer Hours:

Stephanie Martin

&

Gary Martin

Lifetime Achievement: Jessica Latimer Class 4

20 Years of Service

Congratulations to Our New Nueces Master Gardener Specialists

MG Earth-Kind Landscape Specialist

MG Home Fruit Specialist

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Celebrate National Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Month in June

June has been designated as National Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Month by the United States Department of Agriculture. June is a great time to celebrate the season's bounty. You can find a wealth of fresh fruits and vegetables, whether bought at your local farmer's market or ones you might grow yourself.

Go visit one of the great farmer's markets in our area. Then look for a way to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. Maybe try some new recipes from the Nueces Master Gardener’s Texican cookbook. Experiment and get the whole family involved. When kids start eating healthy at a young age, they can build good habits that carry through into adulthood.

Start to Finish : 10 mins.

8 oz green beans, trimmed & cut into ½” pieces

8 oz asparagus, trimmed & cut into ½” pieces

¼ cup chopped walnut

2 Tbsp. butter, softened

2 Tbsp. chopped mint

1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro

Cook vegetables in lightly salted boiling water

2 minutes; drain. Toss with walnuts, butter,

mint, and cilantro. Season to taste with salt,

pepper, and a squeexe of lime.

Makes 4 servings.

Each serving: 130 cal, 11 g. fat, 15 mg chol, 202

mg sodium, 8 g carb, 3 g fiber, 4 g pro.

Herbed Chopped Veggies

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Greens from your Garden Submitted by Thorunn Kelley

3 Qt. Fresh cut greens (I used SwissChard, Beet Greens and small Collard Greens leaves) 1-2 Tbsp. Olive oil 1 Tbps. butter ½ Onion 3-4 cloves of garlic Salt & Pepper 3 Tbsp. Spaghetti sauce – Ragu - Tomato, Garlic & Onion worked well Drop the greens in a pot of boiling water. Boil for 3 min. Drain and drop in a bowl of ice water. In the same pot heat olive oil and butter, saute chopped onion and garlic until soft. Chop drained and cooled greens add to onion mixture. Add salt & pepper as needed – toss and cook for a few min. Then add spaghetti sauce – mix well and heat for another 2-3 min. Enjoy!

Heirloom Cantaloupe Salsa

Prep time: 5 mins Total time: 5 mins Serves: 4 Sweet & savory, crisp and refreshing, this recipe works well as a salsa with crudite or atop a spicy, fresh, grilled fish or chicken. Ingredients

1 small heirloom cantaloupe, cubed 1 large peach, cubed 1/4 small red onion, diced 1 small lime, juiced 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves Freshly ground black pepper, or cayenne for heat, to taste

Instructions 1. Mix all together in ceramic or glass bowl. 2. Tightly cover and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

http://paleoista.com/recipes/heirloom-cantaloupe-salsa/

Beat Inflammation to Get An All-over Health Boost! Cantaloupe activates protective enzymes. Your blood contains enzymes whose sole job is to flush out inflammatory proteins before they can cause trouble. And cantaloupe contains carotenoids that rev production of those enzymes as much as 25%, research reveals. Simply eat one cup of cantaloupe daily and you can be sure those enzymes will do a great job! Cherries speed healing. Eating one cup of any type of fresh or frozen cherries—or ¼ cup of dried cherries—daily can cut your inflammation levels 17% or more in as little as four days, reports the Journal of Nutrition. Thanks go to the same antioxidant pigments (anthocyanins) that make cherries red, explains Daniel Nadeau, M.D., author of The Color Code.

Woman’s World. May 26, 2014, p.16

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Nutrient Information for Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are sources of many vitamins, minerals and other natural substances that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Some of these nutrients may also be found in other foods. Eating a balanced diet and making other lifestyle changes are key to maintaining your body's good health.

Eating fruits and vegetables of different colors gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients, like fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Some examples include green spinach, orange sweet potatoes, black beans, yellow corn, purple plums, red watermelon, and white onions. For more variety, try new fruits and vegetables regularly.

Diets rich in dietary fiber have been shown to have a number of beneficial effects including decreased risk of coronary artery disease.

Excellent vegetable sources: navy beans, kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, lima beans, white beans, soybeans, split peas, chick peas, black eyed peas, lentils, artichokes

Folate* Healthful diets with adequate folate may reduce a woman's risk of having a child with a brain or spinal cord defect.

Excellent vegetable sources: black eyed peas, cooked spinach, great northern beans, asparagus

Potassium Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Good fruit and vegetable sources: sweet potatoes, tomato paste, tomato puree, beet greens, white potatoes, white beans, lima beans, cooked greens, carrot juice, prune juice

Vitamin A Vitamin A keeps eyes and skin healthy and helps to protect against infections.

Excellent fruit and vegetable sources: sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, kale, collard greens, winter squash, cantaloupe, red peppers, Chinese cabbage

Vitamin C Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds and keep teeth and gums healthy.

Excellent fruit and vegetable sources: red and green peppers, kiwi, strawberries, sweet potatoes, kale, cantaloupe, broccoli, pineapple, Brussels sprouts, oranges, mangoes, tomato juice, cauliflower

Fiber

http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/fruitsvegetables/nutrient-info.html

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Getting Ready For A Fall Vegetable Garden

South Texas Gardening with Bob Webster, KTSA San Antonio

As odd as it seems July is the time to start thinking about your fall vegetable garden. The month of July is the time to start planning and preparing the soil for the upcoming season.

Fall soil preparation is basically the same as for spring. Where you will be setting out individual plants (tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) put a cup each of fertilizer and greensand on the surface of the soil. For tomatoes you should also sprinkle about ¼ cup of Epsom salts over a 3` X 3` area around the fertilizer. Cover the fertilizer and greensand with a mound of good

compost (we recommend Ladybug Revitalizer) and make a depression in the top of the mound so that you can moisten it regularly. Where you will be planting row crops (beans, lettuce, radishes, etc.) place the fertilizer and greensand in a line and cover it with compost. Make a small depression down the center of the row, once again water every few days between now and planting time. Take great care in choosing your crops for your fall garden and begin planting at the appropriate time. This may be as early as July for tomatoes and as late as November for Spinach. Having the soil properly prepared will greatly increase your chances of the creating your best fall garden ever.

Then there is the issue of seed vs. transplant. Some plants such as tomatoes, peppers, the Cole family, (Broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage), onions, and eggplant are most often purchased as transplants although they can be started from seed if you get an early start. Other vegetables including leafy vegetables (lettuce, mustard, spinach) and beans, cucumbers, okra, squash, melons, etc. may be planted from seed or transplants. Seeds may be started indoors and then set out, or they can be sown directly into the soil at the appropriate time. Root vegetables (radishes, carrots, turnips, beets) are always direct seeded.

When you are selecting vegetables for your garden always strive for diversity. Some varieties perform better than others in a given year so planting several different varieties of a particular vegetable will guarantee a successful harvest. It is important to include as many heirloom varieties as possible in your garden because they offer exceptional taste, are usually hardier than hybrids, and they are unique and unusual in color and shape. Most heirloom vegetables, with the exception of tomatoes, are only available as seed.

By observing planting dates, you give your vegetables the maximum time to grow and produce. Check planting dates on the chart that follows .When planting from seed, thinning is very important. To grow and mature properly, each plant in your garden needs light, water, and nutrients. To receive these things plants must have room. Without sufficient space plants will be stunted, will put on spindly growth, and the yield of produce will be low.

There is some regular maintenance which needs to be performed during the growing season. Spraying regularly with Liquid seaweed and molasses improves taste, nutritional content, insect resistance, and cold hardiness. Regular watering and fertilizing will keep your plants vigorous and productive. Vegetables which are grown organically will have few pests, however if you should have an outbreak there are natural controls for any problem. The use of pesticides should be limited so that valuable beneficial insect populations will remain healthy.

Here are some specific tips for individual vegetables.

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Beans: There are many kinds of beans, but all can be categorized as either “bush” or “pole” varieties. Bush forms produce more quickly but there season is not as long. The first year that beans are planted in an area a seed inoculant should be used. Pick edible beans while they are young and tender and dried beans after the beans are fully formed.

Cole Family: (Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels s sprouts, and cabbage) observe planting distances and dates for best results. Leaves may be pulled over developing heads of cauliflower to prevent sunburn.

Cucumbers: There are bush and trailing forms. Trailing varieties do best with a fence or other support on which to climb. Good pollination is critical so avoid any pesticides which might diminish valuable bee populations.

Eggplant: Many varieties are available and may be purple or white in color. Eggplants are hot weather plants which should not be planted until the soil is warm. Regular watering is important to keep fruits from being to bitter.

Melons: These warm weather plants are usually planted in `hills` or `mounds` rather than rows. Good pollination and adequate moisture are important for good fruit development.

Okra: Plant after daytime temperatures have warmed significantly and treat seed with actinovate to reduce cotton root rot. Pick while the pods are tender.

Onions: Onions may be thinned as they reach ` green onion size`, and the rest left to reach mature size as summer progresses.

Peas (Southern): Southern peas such as blackeyes and chowder peas should be grown as you would beans.

Peas (winter): Planting dates are critical, and seed inoculant should be used the first year an area is planted. Edible pods should be picked while tender and before seeds develop and dry pods after peas are fully formed.

Peppers: Peppers do not grow well until hot weather arrives so they should not be set out to early. Hot peppers, banana peppers, and bell peppers grow extremely well in south Texas.

Potatoes: White, red, purple, or yellow potatoes are planted from sections with `eyes`. Potatoes should be dug as vines fade for tender skinned new potatoes. Leave the tubers in the ground for two weeks longer for thicker skinned spring potatoes which may be stored for longer periods.

Potatoes (Sweet): Sweet potatoes are started from `slips` (small rooted section of potato) mature potatoes can be harvested in summer or fall depending on the size desired.

Squash: Both bush and trailing types thrive in our area of south Texas and should be planted in mounds. Good pollination and regular irrigation are critical for fruit development. Pick while fruit is tender.

Tomatoes: There are unlimited shapes, colors, sizes and flavors. `Determinate ` varieties form a medium size bush, while `indeterminate` tomatoes continue to grow into large vines. Both should be grown in sturdy cages for best results. Prevent blossom end rot with periodic application of Epsom salts and keep fruit from splitting by watering only when necessary.

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Master Gardener Composter Specialist Training

Class 5 Hosted by Bexar County – San Antonio

This Master Gardener Composter Specialist Training was created as an intensive multiday training

that would empower certified Master Gardeners with knowledge and skills required to effectively

support and multiply Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension Service efforts in Earth-Kind ®

environmental educational programs in their counties.

When: June 18 thru June 20, 2014 Wednesday Friday

Where: San Antonio Botanical Garden

555 Funston Place 78209

Time: June 18-19 class starts at 8 am – 5 pm * New Earth: Soils & Compost is one of the largest facilities in the State of Texas

Registration Fee is $225. This includes 2 lunches, 1 dinner, snacks, and other

goodies.

Payment and application must be in our office by Tuesday, June 3rd.

Cancellation must be made no later than Tuesday, June 3rd;

We will seek to provide reasonable accommodations for our events for all persons with

disabilities. We request that you contact our office (210) 467-6575, at least two weeks in

advance, of the event to advise us of the auxiliary aid or service that you require.

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Jessica M. Weizer, CEA- Horticulture Editor: Jenny Mohundro Disclaimer - the information herein is for informational purposes only.

Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the

understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the

Master Gardeners is implied. Educational programs of the Texas A&M

AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color,

religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran

status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and

the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating ******************************************************** Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid, service, or accommodation in order to participate in any Extension event are encouraged to contact their County Extension Office at 361-767-5217 at least one week in advance of the program in order for proper arrangements to be made. ************** In the event of a name, address or phone number change please contact the office at: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 710 E. Main, Suite 1, Attn: Horticulture Robstown, Texas 78380 (361) 767-5217