Just when Houston gardeners thought it was safe to venture out into the landscape, Mother Nature, who we suspect is actually a voodoo queen, had other plans this week. We cannot be blamed for thinking that winter was over. It got up to 78 degrees last week before plunging once again into the forties. This week, when many of us had planned to do our mid-February rose pruning, local meteorologists warned us of yet another cold front which will drop some areas of Houston below freezing.
While many northern gardeners may envy our long growing season, Houstonians know it’s a constant roller coaster of weather events and pendulum-swinging temperatures. We’re spoiled by warm February days in which we try to get an early start on our vegetable growing season. Planting an Early Girl or Big Boy tomato in the garden before March is our reward for dealing with the July garden massacres from 100 degree heat and drought.
I for once, did not give in to the temptation to start early. Maybe it was intuition or maybe it was dealing with the recent loss of a pet, but my newly-purchased seeds are still safely in their packets and my garden still shows the effects of our recent winter snow, which left a sea of brown in its wake.
With the constant weather fluctuations, many of us are behind in our garden cleanup, waiting for a decent weekend in which to clear out flower beds and make a run to the local nursery. When the next nice day rolls around, here are some tips to get the season started.
Clearing and pruning:
There are few landscapes across the city that were not affected by the rare snowfall Houston received in January. Though the temperatures did not get as low as Winter Storm Uri in 2021, many plants were affected, especially annuals, tropical plants and tender perennials. Once the danger of another freeze is past, it is time to cut back the dead bits. Make sure you have sharp pruners and work gloves, especially around roses.
Many plants that look like goners will actually come back up from their roots. Mature specimens of angel trumpet, blue plumbago, clerodendrum and lantana will need to be cut back to about six to ten inches. Leaving a little bit of the woody stems can help gardeners to remember where the plants are located. Same for tender perennial grasses. I have a massive purple fountain grass that grew enormously in just one season. It’s going to take an afternoon just to cut back all the dead leaves. Many ornamental grasses benefit from being divided and I plan to do just that, which means I will have to find a spot to put the extra divisions.
Oleander doesn’t usually have to be cut back drastically. I usually just cut back to any green stems that are left. Bougainvillea is a tender perennial that often survives Texas winters, but recent winter storms have taken their toll on once grand beauties. Though most will not recover after a hard freeze, I did have one come back last year from the ground. It had just started to put out its purple brackets when the snow came. I am going to cut it back to about six inches above the ground and wait it out.
This is also the time to prune peach trees. I am no expert in this field and never seem to do it properly despite watching numerous internet videos. Still, I managed to get 80 or so peaches last year, so I must have done something right. Early types already have blooms in February so this last cold snap could do some damage to the potential harvest.
Do not prune spring-blooming plants like azaleas until after they bloom. Right now, most are budding out and some are already blooming. Azaleas need very little pruning anyway. I only cut back dead branches.
Pruning roses:
The standard pruning date for Houston roses is February 14, easy to remember because of Valentine’s Day, but the cold weather delayed pruning for most of us. And the actual pruning depends upon the type of rose you are tackling. Hybrid teas often bloom better when they are cut back more severely in the spring.
For all roses, the dead wood should be cut off, along with weak, spindly canes and any suckers growing beneath the graft. It’s also a good idea to remove canes that are growing across one another. That helps with air flow and also prevents the canes from rubbing together and creating a potential wound. Most experts say cutting a rose back by a third is the standard.
The best time to prune is during dormancy. However, many of my roses have already put out tons of new growth because of the warm weather and I just cannot make myself cut them back. I have decided to wait until after they bloom in the spring to do major cutting. Unfortunately, it means my rambling rose is way out of hand. Still, it should put on a stellar show in early spring, so we’ll see.
Bulbs:
For those who planted fall and winter bulbs, they should be emerging from the ground by now. In fact, December-planted tulips are already blooming in my garden. I only wish I had planted more. Unfortunately, they take up a lot of refrigerator space when chilling them for 6 to 8 weeks prior to planting, especially since it coincides with the holidays.
Now is a good time to check out the garden centers for summer flowering bulbs like gladiolus, calla lilies, canna lilies, Asiatic lilies and dahlias. They still need another couple of weeks before going into the ground. Unlike some spring-flowering bulbs, summer ones do not need to be chilled. For those with lots of shade, caladiums have a wide range of foliage colors and can be planted in March.
Take stock:
While clearing out beds, keep an eye out for volunteers. I have already discovered 7 cilantro seedlings, a couple of which are already a good size. A parsley plant in my flower bed is still alive, though I completely forgot about it. Free plants are always a good thing, unless it’s in a spot you would prefer it not be.
Many annuals died from the freeze, but my dianthus sailed through. They are still blooming among the detritus of winter dieback. Mexican heather is another annual that I discovered can be perennial in a Houston garden. They die back so the dead foliage needs to be cut away. However they may come up from the root base, so leave that part alone. You may be surprised at how quickly it returns. Pentas are similar, though not quite as reliable in returning. Many gardeners will find that periwinkles, or vinca, will come back. If not, they often self sow babies everywhere.
Bang for your buck:
The hardiness of dianthus in my flower beds over the years has made me a fan. I often buy a flat of them in fall and early spring. Jolt and Amazon are my favorites because they are tall and showy. They come in vibrant purples and deep crimson reds, with a few light pink types as well. I underplant them with smaller types of dianthus, too. They look great with blues and purples.
Gerbera daisies are another reliable perennial and I always wonder why I don’t plant more. I think it’s because they are more expensive on the front end. While many bedding plants are less than $2, gerberas tend to be $5 to $7. However, I have some that have lasted through 15 Houston winters and summers. I bought one at a local grocery store recently for $5 and I am planning on going back for more. They are perfect for pots or beds and can make a window box look cheerful.
Geraniums are another plant that earns its up front money. They bloom a long time and can make it through winter with some help. Sometimes they get gangly looking, so I move them to my “plant hospital” in the winter and see how they look in spring. Even if they still look a bit ragged, I plant some lobelia or petunias around them to hide the rough-looking parts.
Many flowering vines can be costly, but last for years like star jasmine and Carolina jessamine. I bought a butterfly pea vine that self sows in my yard, but I also save seeds from it to plant against fences and garden structures. It gets killed off every year, so it is a bit of a hassle to remove the dead wood. It’s worth it for the gorgeous blooms.
Planning ahead:
While January and early February were good times for planning new flower beds or a vegetable garden, late February and the whole month of March are go-time. It’s essential to get a jump on the weeds, plant some annuals and perennials, then put down mulch. For those of us who sow seeds, we can make holes in the mulch for our seeds or wait until they have germinated to lay down mulch.
Vegetable gardens:
While most vegetable gardens should have been created by now, there is still time to buy pre-made raised beds, though they are very expensive and filling them with soil can be even more cost-prohibitive. Still, it’s a healthier hobby than many others out there, so it often pays for itself in fresh produce and better mental health. My husband might disagree with the mental health part considering the tears I have shed over squirrel-bitten tomatoes and bug-ridden zucchini.
The tomato is undoubtedly the queen of the summer vegetable garden but in Houston, tomato seedlings need to be planted in late February/early March. And it’s way too late to grow them from seeds. The nurseries will be filled with so many varieties, it can be hard to choose just a few. However, tomatoes take up a lot of space and it’s best to know what types you really want to grow. For sauce, the Roma types are best while one cherry tomato can provide fruit all season long. Heirloom tomatoes may not produce as much but their flavor is worth the hassle.
Tomatoes need a lot of sun, but some dappled shade in the late afternoon heat is helpful in our climate. They also need good soil. Nitrogen-rich fertilizers can help in the early stages when the plant is producing its leaves and stems, while phosphorus and potassium help in fruiting. Starting with compost, then feeding regularly with an organic fertilizer should yield good results, but overdoing it can be worse than none at all. Tomatoes need to be planted deep to allow roots to spread out from the stem.
Cherry types are the easiest to to grow in Houston. Some of the best ones include Sun Gold, Juliet, Black Cherry, Sweet Million and Yellow Pear. the variety of colors makes for a wonderful salad. For paste tomatoes, I have successfully grown San Marzano, Viva Italia and Roma. Most Roma types are determinate, meaning they set most of their fruit at one time. However, I have never gotten enough at the same time to make more than one pan of sauce.
For early and more traditional tomato types, Houston gardeners go for hybrids like Early Girl and Stupice. Carmello is a good mid-season producer while tomatoes like Better Boy, Beefsteak and Celebrity are reliable slicers. Cherokee Purple is an heirloom go-to that tastes amazing, is beautiful and is fairly productive for an heirloom. Green Zebra is a good choice for an exotic color while Patio is a great choice for pots.
For peppers and eggplants, it’s best to wait another week or two for planting seedlings. However, there are still plenty of vegetables that can be sown from seed now. Lettuce, kale, mustard greens and spinach can be sown now to harvest in a couple of months. Leafy greens prefer cooler temperatures and will bolt once the temperatures rise above 85 degrees. Beans can be planted the first of March and then sowed in succession for continual harvest. Contender, Dragon Tongue, Kentucky Blue Wonder and ? do well in our heat and humidity.
Cucumbers are another easy vegetable for Houston and the seedless ones are especially tasty. They can be sown by seed or transplant in early March. For me, the seeds germinate so quickly, it’s cheaper to just plant cucumber seeds in a small hill. Some may need staking or a small cage to keep them off the ground.
Summer squash and zucchini can be planted in early March, but most squash need a lot of room to spread out, so make sure you have space for them. Melons can be sown in mid-March through early May.
Go with the flow:
The ups and downs of weather are just like the ups and downs of life. You have to enjoy the fair weather and the good times while you can. This spring, I will only have one dog at my side in the garden instead of two. That may make the squirrels happy, but it will be a bittersweet season for me. Still, I will watch the garden burst into bloom as it does every year and take some solace in the renewal of life.
