July 21, 2021
Plant pumpkins now for fall decorations.
Want pumpkins this fall? Time to get planting
By Abby Read
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
 
Raising your own pumpkin patch, whether it is for decorations or for pies, can be a fun a way to introduce gardening for your family.
 
Even though pumpkin season is several months away, it’s important to know the prime pumpkin-planting time is now.
 
Russ Wallace, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service vegetable specialist, Lubbock provides tips and basic requirements for growing your own personal pumpkin patch.
 
Pumpkin planting season in Texas is summer
 
Sunlight hours and temperature play an important role in how well pumpkins grow in Texas. While too much sunlight and extremely hot weather can damage some plants, pumpkins thrive in early Texas summers.
 
Different varieties need various amounts of days to become completely ripe. You should choose the planting variety based on when you plan on harvesting your pumpkins for your fall activities.
 
“The best time of year to plant pumpkins is from early May through June, but it also depends on the variety to be grown,” Wallace said. “Some varieties mature in 85 days while others may not mature for 120 days. So those with 120 days to harvest should be planted early.”
 
Pumpkins require good drainage to thrive
 
Knowing the soil in your area is crucial as pumpkins thrive in soils with good drainage. Without good soil, pumpkins might need a change to their water intake, explained Wallace.
 
“Pumpkins can grow on any soil that has good drainage. In the High Plains pumpkins are generally grown on sandy loams to clay loams,” Wallace said. “If grown on sandier soils they will require more irrigation.”
 
If the soil in your area does not drain water well, adding organic matter such as peat moss and compost to the soil will give it better drainage. This should allow the soil to become suitable for growing pumpkins and other plants that need good drainage.
 
Pumpkin water requirements may be higher than you think
 
With their growing season in the middle of Texas’s hot and dry summers, it’s important to keep in mind that pumpkins need a lot of water to thrive.
 
“Pumpkins require about 25-30 inches of rain plus irrigation,” Wallace said. “They need most of their water when the fruit is developing/maturing. If water is not uniformly applied while fruit is maturing, the ends of the pumpkins may not fully develop. We see that a lot in high heat, drought conditions.”
 
Proper watering conditions will set your pumpkin plants up for successful ripening for harvest. Irrigation and good, draining soil will help your pumpkin patch thrive in Texas weather.
Check out the pollinator gardening Bugs by the Year podcast
‘Bugs by the Yard’ and ‘Unwanted Guests’ cover Texas insects and pests
By Susan Himes
Communication Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife
 
These two bug-based podcasts launched by Texas A&M AgriLife experts allows you to learn on the “fly” by enjoying a podcast on your time schedule.
 
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts have launched two new podcast series: “Bugs by the Yard,” which covers insects found in Texas yards and gardens, and “Unwanted Guests,” which covers insects and other pests in homes and buildings.
 
“It started with a podcast where Dr. Erfan Vafaie, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management specialist in Overton, was interviewing other entomologists,” said Wizzie Brown, AgriLife Extension entomologist for Travis County. “Erfan has a voice for radio and also has done stand-up comedy. From there it evolved to a group of us working together to launch two unique podcasts centered around insects and pests.”
 
Brown said the podcasts are for anyone with an interest in insects or a pest problem.
 
Bugs by the yard
 
The landscape podcast “Bugs by the Yard” is hosted by Vafaie; Molly Keck, AgriLife Extension entomologist for Bexar County; and Brown.
 
It can be found at https://bugs-by-the-yard.captivate.fm/ or by searching your preferred podcast provider.
 
There are four podcasts currently available, with the team creating a new one every several weeks. Topics covered so far include an introduction to the entomologists, insects and winter survival, pollinator gardening and insects in vegetable gardens.
 
Unwanted guests
 
The structural podcast “Unwanted Guests” is hosted by Robert Puckett, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension entomologist, Bryan-College Station; Janet Hurley, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management specialist, Dallas; Keck and Brown.
 
“This podcast covers those unwanted guests in your home or building,” said Hurley. “We’ll be focusing on the insects and pests you’d prefer not to find in or around your structures.”
 
You can find these podcasts at https://unwanted-guests.captivate.fm/ where we have discussed fire ants, mosquitoes, termites and carpet beetles.
There are about 372 certified organic crop and livestock operations in Texas. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)
AgriLife Extension brings new experience to Texas’ organic production scene
By Paul Schattenberg
Texas AgriLife Extension Service

For Bob Whitney, the new Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service organic program specialist based at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Stephenville, agriculture has been a “worldly” experience.

Whitney, who served as an AgriLife Extension agent and then retired after 28 years to helm his own consulting company, has provided his agricultural expertise in 26 countries.

In May, he rejoined AgriLife Extension to take on his new specialist role.

“In this new position, I provide guidance to people or operations seeking organic certification,” Whitney said. “I also serve as a liaison connecting operators to AgriLife Extension and Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists for guidance on general and sector-specific questions about organic production, as well as coordinate with the Texas Department of Agriculture and other organic certifiers to facilitate compliance with certification requirements.”

Going organic in Texas

There are currently an estimated 372 certified organic crop and livestock operations in Texas, with most of them relatively small- to medium-size compared to their commercial counterparts. More than 260 of those producers are in the South Plains and High Plains, mostly involved in peanut and cotton production.

Whitney said both his experience as an AgriLife Extension agent serving Parker, Tarrant, Comanche and Williamson counties, as well as his work in international agriculture have done much to prepare him for this new position.

“As an agent, I did a lot of work with organic producers, especially dairy producers in Central Texas where Texas’ organic dairy production started, as well as others involved in organic agriculture,” he said. “I also worked with the Texas Peanut Board and with the wheat industry here in Texas.

“There’s lot of organic wheat production going on, especially in the High Plains. And there’s a lot of organic cotton production that happens in rotation with organic peanut production.”

Whitney said Texas has about 30,000 acres of organic peanut production and leads the world in that area.

“This is a big deal since we produce 98% of the nation’s organic peanuts on the South Plains,” he said.

Whitney said while he had not previously worked with rice producers in Texas, his agricultural experiences with that crop in Asia have prepared him to work with the 71 organic rice producers in the state. Texas is one of the largest organic rice producers in the nation.

Texas also compares well to California and Wisconsin in organic milk production, but those numbers are harder to pin down, Whitney said.

He said currently Texas producers can grow almost any crop organically as there are few serious plant diseases and insect pests that might impede them from doing so.

“However, there’s not a market for everything. If there’s a very large organic price difference – the consumer may not care if it is organic – then while you can grow it, there’s not a market that will pay the difference,” Whitney said.

He noted it typically costs twice as much to produce anything organically.

“Interest in organic farming has really increased over the years along with consumer interest in how and under what conditions food is produced,” Whitney said.

Whitney’s worldwide agricultural efforts

In his most recent in-country effort, Whitney collaborated with the Norman Borlaug Institute of International Agriculture, part of the Texas A&M University System, to assist the Ukulima Farm Research Center in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

“I was asked to be the farm manager at the center,” he explained. “The center is a partnership of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the Borlaug Institute, and its mission is to promote African agricultural research and education. The center supports the application of science to increase African agricultural production, enhance rural livelihoods and conserve natural resources.”

Whitney’s additional experience with international agriculture projects included work in Iraq and Honduras, as well as helping faith-based organizations with agriculture projects throughout the world.

“I have done lots of agriculture work in many countries developing training and demonstration projects focused on conserving soil, cropping systems, livestock production and marketing,” Whitney said. “While many of the subsistence farmers throughout the world are not technically organic producers, they do employ many of the practices associated with organic production.”

In collaboration with the Borlaug Institute, Whitney served as chief of party and team leader for the Iraq Agricultural Extension Revitalization Project, IAER, active from 2006-2012. The project, a partnership of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Foreign Agriculture Service, was funded by the U.S. Department of State.

Additionally, as owner of the Whitney Consulting Group, he provided consulting and research services in agriculture and community development in the U.S. and other countries. This included consultation with agricultural businesses, organizations and agencies in India, Honduras, Guatemala, Kenya, Cuba and China, as well as assistance to Christian mission groups and non-governmental organizations.

Whitney said he is eager to help expand the practice of organic farming in Texas and teach those interested in the requirements and practices that must be implemented to be granted organic certification.

“I feel my combined experience in both Texas and internationally will be of use in helping farmers throughout the state,” he said. “We can apply many of the organic soil improvement techniques used, such as intercropping or planting cover crops in between main crops, the proper spacing of crops and organic composting.”

He also said he will be involved in the practical application of research into the development of additional crops that may be grown organically in the state.

“In addition to the organic crops we already grow here, such as cotton, wheat, peanuts, rice and vegetables, we are looking into specialty crops like sesame, cowpeas, lentils, indigo, guar and hemp. We’re also looking at any other vegetables or fruits that might be produced organically in the state. Currently we are evaluating organic raspberry production under shade cloth in controlled experiments.”

He said his efforts will also include researching new crop varieties and investigating organically acceptable ways to improve their quality and yield.

“Some ways this might be done would be through the use of microbial and biological seed treatments as well as plant selection and breeding,” he said.

Whitney said the potential for organic production in Texas is great, and he feels it will continue to increase as long as consumer interest persists.
Upcoming Garden Events
 
If you would like your organization's events included in "Upcoming Garden Events" or would like to make a change to a listed event, please contact us at Garden Events. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details at least three weeks prior to the event.
The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has caused the cancellation or rescheduling of many events this past year. If you wish to attend any of the events listed below, please contact the presenters in advance to determine if the event has been cancelled or postponed, or if it will take place as scheduled.
JULY

Overton: The East Texas Horticultural Field Day will feature more than 500 ornamental plant trial varieties for public viewing on July 22 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton. This year’s field day will allow in-person attendance from 8 a.m. to noon for a free, “open house-style” event. COVID-19 protocols prevented attendance by the public last year. The field day will begin at the center’s Bruce McMillan Jr. East Farm, 2 miles east of Overton on Texas Highway 135 N. The ornamental trial garden is on County Road 133 just past the former Kilgore College Demonstration Farm. There will be signs to guide visitors. The center headquarters is about 2 miles north of downtown Overton at 1710 Farm-to-Market Road 3053. For driving directions to the center or the East Farm trial site, visit https://flowers.tamu.edu/field-day/ or call 903-834-6191.

Various locations: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in Williamson, Lubbock and Gregg counties will host a 2021 Junior Master Gardener Hybrid Multi-County Teacher Training Workshop on July 22 in their respective counties. Space for these trainings is limited, so participants are encouraged to register for the training in their area as soon as possible. Register for the workshops at https://jmgkids.us/teacherworkshop/. The training, designed for elementary school teachers wanting to teach more plant science, environmental science and/or implement a school garden project, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Locations, costs and registration deadlines for the trainings are: Williamson County, AgriLife Extension office, 100 Wilco Way, Room 205, Georgetown. The cost is $75 and includes lunch and door prizes. The registration deadline is July 15. Lubbock County, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 1102 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1294, Lubbock. The cost is $85 and includes lunch and door prizes. The registration deadline is July 15. Gregg County, AgriLife Extension office, 405 E. Marshall Ave., Suite 101. Longview. The cost is $75, and lunch is included. Bring or mail checks to the office before July 13. For more information on the training in Williamson County, contact Kate Whitney at 512-943-3300. For more information on the training in Lubbock County, call Christina Reid at 806-775-1740 or email christina.reid@ag.tamu.edu. For more information on the training in Gregg County, call Arvitta Scott at 903-236-8429 or email arvitta.scott@ag.tamu.edu.

La Marque: “Arranging Fresh and Artificial Flowers” with Jackie Auer, Galveston County Master Gardener presenting, July 24, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., at Galveston County AgriLife Extension Bldg. in Carbide Park, 4102-B Main Street (Hwy 519), La Marque. Note: Bring your own vase for hands-on arranging. Class limited to 20 attendees. You must pre-register to attend. Register here: https://galveston.agrilife.org/horticulture/mgseminars/.

Online: The Fort Bend Regional Vegetable Conference is a celebration of vegetable production along the Upper Gulf Coast region. Join the conference via Zoom on Thursday, July 29. The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at noon. The counties of Waller, Wharton, Harris, Galveston, Brazoria, Colorado and Austin join with Fort Bend to put on this event focusing on teaching sustainable practices to help producers maximize efficiencies and profitability. Although organizers were unable to host their annual Vegetable Conference in February, they have put together a short virtual summer session with topics centered on sustainable and organic production, disease and insect management and variety selection. Partnering sponsors have allowed organizers to offer this program to attendees at only $10 per person. Three (3) continuing education credits will be offered in the General category for Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator license holders. To register, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fort-bend-regional-vegetable-conference-summer-session-tickets-160842268555. The deadline to register is 4 p.m. July 28. There will be no in-office registrations. Registrants will receive meeting details, including a link to attend the conference. For general questions, contact Brandy Rader at 281-633-7029 or brandy.rader@ag.tamu.edu.
AUGUST

Online: The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Travis County and Travis County Master Gardener Jo Anne Hargraves will present “HOA Entrance Makeover” on August 4. Jo Anne served as project manager for her RiverPlace HOA entrance makeover after a road improvement project destroyed the existing intersection. The free live webinar will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude around noon. To register click here or paste this link in your browser: https://traviscountytx-gov.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/6016257728518/WN_ezhnUSwRRRq3v3g1p_mMew. Jo Anne coordinated the installation and development of the new entrance through cooperation between HOA, city services, state agencies and regulatory agencies for a project on private property. You’ll learn how she became involved, the scope of the project, the constraints and opportunities she faced, and the project phases for the major construction and new landscaping. She’ll also talk about the major challenges that were presented when doing this during a pandemic and the February 2021 freeze. If you’re doing similar landscaping projects with your HOA, neighborhood or church, don’t miss this session on August 4th. The webinar has a limit of 100 attendees, but an unlimited number of people can register and see a recording of the program. All attendees must register to either attend the live seminar or view the recording. . Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions prior to the webinar and receive answers during the live program as time allows. This seminar is part of the Drought-To-Deluge seminar series. More information on the seminars can be found by visiting the Travis County Extension Education website. You may want to sign up for event notifications and subscribing to the blog You may also be interested in the book, From Drought to Deluge: The Resilient Central Texas Garden, which can be purchased online from the Travis County Master Gardeners Association.

Online: Home Grown Lecture Series: Cooking Safely Outdoors, Shannon Dietz, Texas A&M AgriLife County Extension Agent-Agriculture & Natural Resources. Thursday, August 5, Cooking Safely Outdoors by Shannon Dietz, 10:00 a.m., FREE Virtual Lecture, Register is Required. https://homegrown2021Q3.eventbrite.com/.

Online: Green Thumb Gardening Lecture Series: Gardening for Beginners by Harris County Master Gardeners with Houston Community College. Monday, August 9 – Gardening for Beginners. 10:00-11:30 a.m., Free Virtual Lecture, Register early at: hccs.edu/community-learning-workshops.

Online:Oh #!&* I did it to myself (and how to fix it if you did)" will be presented by Gaye Hammond, Thursday, August 12, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. She will discuss damage to roses unintentionally caused by gardeners. The meeting link will be available on The Houston Rose Society website at http://www.houstonrose.org/.

Online: Green Thumb Gardening Lecture Series: Gardening for Beginners by Harris County Master Gardeners with Harris County Public Library System. Tuesday, August 17, Gardening for Beginners. 11:00 a.m.-noon., Free Virtual Lecture, No Registration Required. Watch via Facebook Live at: facebook.com/harriscountypl/live.

Online: Home Grown Lecture Series: Fall Vegetable Gardening, Paul Winski, Texas A&M AgriLife County Extension Agent-Horticulture. Thursday, August 19, Fall Vegetable Gardening by Paul Winksi, 10:00 a.m., Free Virtual Lecture, Register is Required. https://homegrown2021Q3.eventbrite.com/.


SEPTEMBER

Online: The International Master Gardener Conference will be held online this year, September 12-17. Learn more at https://www.internationalmastergardener.com/.
OCTOBER

Online/Kyle/Dripping Springs: Annual Plant Sale by Hays County Master Gardeners: large selection of HCMGA-grown grasses, adapted perennials, shrubs and succulents, including many Texas Superstars. Online sales October 4-12 at http://hcmga.square.site. Purchases to be picked up in person at the Kyle Public Library (Saturday, October 9) and the Dripping Springs Farmers Market (Wednesday, October 13). More information at http://hayscountymastergardeners.org.
Weekly Meetings

Galveston: The Young Gardeners Program is a school garden and healthy eating program operating on Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsula. Every Saturday, 9-11 a.m., they host a garden Community Day at one of the schools. It's an opportunity for community members to work and play in the garden and it's kid-friendly. First Saturday - Crenshaw, 416 State Hwy 87, Crystal Beach; Second Saturday - Rosenberg Elementary, 721 10th St., Galveston; Third Saturday - Morgan Elementary, 1410 37th St., Galveston; Fourth Saturday - Oppe Elementary, 2915 81st St., Galveston.
Monthly Meetings

If you would like your organization's events included in "Monthly Meetings" or would like to make a change to a listed meeting, please contact us at Monthly Meetings. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details. 
 
FIRST WEEK
 
Jasper: The Jasper County Master Gardeners meet on the first Monday of each month at St. Michael's Catholic Church from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The evening begins with pot luck social and then guest presentations and/or educational class to conclude. Visit https://jasper.agrilife.org/jasper-master-gardeners/ to verify meeting date for any given month, as circumstances could require a change, and to find information on the speaker and topic scheduled for each meeting; Visit  https://mastergardener.tamu.edu/become/ to become a member.
  
Kaufman: The Kaufman County Master Gardeners meet the first Monday of each month at the First Community Church at 1401 Trinity Drive in Crandall. January through April and August and September meetings are at 9 a.m., with the remaining meetings beginning at 7 p.m. For additional information, visit http://www.kcmga.org, call 972-932-9069 or email to sbburden@ag.tamu.edu.

Houston: The Harris County Master Gardeners meet at noon the first Tuesday of each month at a location in Houston to be determined. For additional information, visit http://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/ or call 713-274-0950.

Schulenberg: Schulenburg Garden Club meets the first Tuesday of each month, at 11:30 a.m., September-May, at the Schulenburg First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 110 Upton Ave., Schulenburg.

Dallas: Garden Masters, Inc., meet the first Wednesday of each month, Sept.- May, at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Rd., Dallas, 75230. The club hosts different speakers each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Come early and order lunch from the The Cafe, which features a healthy menu, fresh local produce and sustainably produced meats and fish (or call in advance to order 972-338-2233). For more information about Garden Masters Inc, email Marcia Borders at borderlineart1@gmail.com.
 
Kerrville: Hill Country Master Gardeners meet the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm at Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 Hwy 27. For more information visit www.hillcountrymastergardeners.org.
 
Midland: The Permian Basin Master Gardeners (Ector/Midland counties) have monthly meetings at noon on the first Wednesday of each month at the West Texas Food Bank, 1601 Westcliff Drive in Midland. For more information call 432-498-4071 or 432-686-4700.

Navasota: The Navasota Garden Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month (September through May) at 10:00 a.m., usually at the First Presbyterian Church Family Life Center, 302 Nolan Street, Navasota. If not meeting at the church, a change of meeting notice will be placed on the door of the Family Life Building. Guests are welcome. Members are from Grimes County and surrounding counties.
  
Allen: The Allen Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, February through December, at the Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main St., Allen. For more information, visit www.allengardenclub.org.

Atlanta: The Cass County Master Gardeners meet the first Thursday of each month at the Atlanta Memorial Hospital Conference Room, State Highway 77 @ S. Williams St., Atlanta. A business meeting is followed by an educational program. The public is welcome to attend. For additional information, call 903-756-5391 or visit http://cass.agrilife.org

Fort Worth: The Native Plant Society of Texas - North Central Chapter meets the first Thursday of each month, excluding January and July, at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7:00 p.m. Guest speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Members, friends, family, guests and the public are welcome. For a list of speakers and topics or more information, visit http://www.txnativeplants.org.
  
Hempstead: The Waller County Master Gardeners usually meet at 9 a.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Waller County AgriLife Extension Office, 846 6th St., Hempstead. For more information on the meeting schedule, visit http://txmg.org/wallermg or call 979-826-7651.
 
Gonzalas: Gonzales Master Gardeners hold their monthly meeting at noon on the first Thursday of each month at 623 Fair Street, Gonzales. Bring a bag lunch, drinks provided. Contact AgriLife Extension Office at 830-672-8531 or visit http://gonzalesmastergardeners.org for more information.

New Braunfels: The Comal Garden Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Southbank Clubhouse, 222 Southbank Blvd., New Braunfels.
 
SECOND WEEK
 
Austin: Austin Organic Gardeners Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month (except December) at the Austin Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; club business begins at 7:00 p.m., followed by a presentation. For more information, visit www.austinorganicgardeners.org.

Jacksonville: The Cherokee County Master Gardeners meet on the second Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at The First Methodist Church, 1031 TX-456 Loop, Jacksonville. For additional information, contact Kim Benton at kim.benton@ag.tamu.edu.
 
Cedar Park/Leander/Liberty Hill: The Hill Country Bloomers meet the second Tuesday of each month (except December) at 7 p.m. at the Cedar Park Recreation Center, 1435 Main Street, Cedar Park. Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to socialize and swap plants and seeds. Meetings feature guest speakers on a variety of topics for the home gardener or landscaper. They host a plant sale in the spring and a garden tour in the late summer/early fall. Throughout the year they contribute time and expertise to local projects. Those with any level of experience are welcome. Non-members are invited to their first meeting at no cost. Membership and speaker info is available at www.hillcountrybloomers.com.

Glen Rose: The Glen Rose Garden Club meets at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month (September through May) at the Somervell County Community Center in Glen Rose. For additional information, email stringer030@yahoo.com.

Glen Rose: The Prairie Rose Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Somerville County Citizen Center, 209 SW Barnard St., Glen Rose. For additional information, email prairierose.npsot@gmail.com
 
Harrison County: The Harrison County Master Gardeners meet on the second Tuesday of each month in the Harrison County Annex building, 102 W Houston St. (south side of the square), Marshall. Meetings are held in the 2nd floor AgriLife Extension meeting room. For more information, call 903-935-8413, or email wannagrow2@gmail.com
 
Marion: The Guadalupe County (Schertz/Seguin) Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the second Tuesday of each month except July, August and December at St. John's Lutheran Church in Marion. Directions to St. John's Lutheran Church: From FM 78 turn south onto FM 465 and the church is just past the Marion School on the right. From IH-10 go north on FM 465 towards Marion. The Church will be on the left, just before you get to town. A plant exchange and meet-and-greet begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program at 7 p.m. Visitors are welcome. For more information or an application to join NPSOT visit www.npsot.org/GuadalupeCounty/ or contactguadalupecounty@npsot.org.
 
Quitman: The Quitman Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Quitman Library on E Goode Street, Quitman. It is a diverse group that welcomes all visitors. For more information, e-mail quitmangardenclub@gmail.com.
 
Denton: The Denton County Master Gardener Association meets from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings are open to the public. For complete details, visit http://dcmga.com/.
 
Humble: The Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, hosts a Lunch Bunch the second Wednesday of each month from noon until 2 p.m. Take a sack lunch or order a box lunch from Starbucks when you call 281-443-8731 to reserve your spot. Master Gardeners and Masters Naturalists may earn CEU credits by attending.
 
Jacksboro: The Jacksboro Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month (except June, July and August) at the Concerned Citizens Center, 400 East Pine Street, Jacksboro. For more information, call Melinda at 940-567-6218.
 
Longview: The Gregg County Master Gardeners Association's Learn at Lunch program meet the second Wednesday of each month. The business meeting begins at 11:30 a.m., with the program at noon, at the AgriLife Extension Office, 405 E. Marshall Ave., Longview. The program is presented for horticultural education and is free to the public. For further information call 903-236-8429, visit www.txmg.org/gregg, or like us on Facebook at Gregg County Master Gardeners. 
 
Rockport: The Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, meets the
second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. at 619 N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport, to discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including historical uses and tips for successful propagation and cultivation. Sometimes they take field trips and have cooking demonstrations in different locations. For more information, contact Linda 361-729-6037, Ruth 361-729-8923 or Cindy 979-562-2153 or visit www.rockportherbs.org and http://rockportherbies.blogspot.com.
 
Woodway: The McLennan County Master Gardeners meet on the second Wednesday each month at noon at the Carleen Bright Arboretum, 9001 Bosque Blvd., Woodway. Educational programs follow the business session. For more information, call 254-757-5180.
 
Beaumont: The Jefferson County Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. (social) 7:00 (meeting) the second Thursday of each month except in July in the AgriLife Extension auditorium, 1225 Pearl 2nd floor (downtown Beaumont next to the Court House). For more information contact: 409-835-8461 or txmg.org/jcmg.
 
Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th Street. Georgetown. For additional information, contract Kathy Henderson at kshend@verizon.net or visit http://www.npsot.org/wp/wilco.
 
Orange: The Orange County Master Gardeners Association holds their monthly meeting on the second Thursday of each month. A short program is presented. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the new Orange County Expo Center on Hwy 1442 in Orangefield. Enter the building in the front entrance, first door on the right, Texas AgriLife offices. Pot luck supper at 6 p.m. Visit http://txmg.org/orange for more information.

Pasadena: The Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold an educational program at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month at The Genoa Friendship Garden Educational Building at 1202 Genoa Red Bluff, Pasadena. The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu.

San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels (corner of Funston & N. New Braunfels). For more information on programs, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org.

San Marcos: The Spring Lake Garden Club meets the second Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m., September-May, at McCoy's Building Supply Headquarters, 1350 IH-35, San Marcos. Contact Terri Boyd (512) 395-66644 x6134.

Smithville: The Smithville Community Gardens meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Smithville Recreation Center. 
 
Angleton: The Brazoria County Master Gardeners meet at 11 a.m. on the second Friday of each month at the Brazoria County Extension Office, 21017 County Road 171, Angleton. There is a general business meeting followed by a brief educational program each month. For further information call 979-864-1558, ext.110.
 
College Station: The A&M Garden Club meets on the second Friday of each month during the school year at 9:30 a.m. in the training room of the College Station Waste Water Facility building at the end of North Forest Parkway, College Station. Expert speakers, plant sharing, and federated club projects help members learn about gardening in the Brazos Valley, floral design, conservation, and more. For more information, visit http://www.amgardenclub.com/.
 
Houston: The Spring Branch African Violet Club meets the second Saturday of each month,January through November, at 10:00 a.m. at the Copperfield Baptist Church, 8350 Highway 6 North, Houston. Call Karla at 281-748-8417 prior to attending to confirm meeting date and time.

Killeen: Youth Backyard Gardening Initiative holds community engagement meetings the second Saturday of each month at 2:30 p.m. at Monarch Academy, 4205 Old Florence Road, Killeen. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/ybkydgarden/.
 
Dallas: The Rainbow Garden Club of North Texas meets the second Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Meetings are held at member's homes and garden centers around the area. For more information, visit www.RainbowGardenClub.com.
 
THIRD WEEK
 
Arlington: The Arlington Men's Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the third Monday of each month (except December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact Lance Jepson at LJepson@aol.com.
 
Cleburne: The Johnson County Master Gardener's meet on the third Monday of each month at Johnson. County Agricultural Office, 109 W. Chambers, Cleburne. Meeting times are at 2 p.m. October through April, except December and at 6 p.m. May through September. An educational program precedes the business meeting. For additional information, contact Elaine Bell at 817-309-8052.
  
New Braunfels: The Comal Master Gardeners meet at 6 p.m. the third Monday of each month (except April and December,) at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. An educational program precedes the business meeting. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, call 830-620-3440 or visit comalmg.org

Texarkana: The Four Corners Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Southwest Center, 3222 W. 7th St. (U.S. 67), Texarkana. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Belinda McCoy at 903-424-7724 or blackmtngardens@yahoo.com.

Abilene: The Master Gardeners meet the third Tuesday of each month at the Taylor County Extension Office, 1982 Lytle Way, Abilene. For more information, contact Big Country Master Gardeners Association at mgardeners@yahoo.com.

Corpus Christi: The Nueces Master Gardeners meet at noon the third Tuesday of each month,except December, at Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely Dr., Corpus Christi. An educational program precedes the business meeting. For further information call 361 767-5217.
 
New Braunfels: The Lindheimer Chapter (Comal County) of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the third Tuesday of each month at  6:30 pm at the GVTC Auditorium, 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels. Meetings include an informative speaker and a Plant of the Month presentation. Meetings are free and visitors are welcome. For more information, visit www.npsot.org/w/lindheimer.  Note: there will be no meeting in June or December.
 
Rockport: Monthly meetings of the Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners are held at 10 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Texas AgriLife Extension Service - Aransas County Office, 892 Airport Rd., Rockport. For additional information, e-mail aransas-tx@tamu.edu or call 361-790-0103.
 
Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September through November and January through April at 10 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 702 Burney Road, Sugar Land. The club hosts a different speaker each month. For more information, visit www.sugarlandgardenclub.org.
 
Denton: The Denton Organic Society, a group devoted to sharing information and educating the public regarding organic principles, meets the third Wednesday of each month (except July, August and December) at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Avenue. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are preceded by a social at 6:30. For more information, call 940-382-8551.
 
Glen Rose: The Somervell County Master Gardeners meet at 10 a.m., the third Wednesday of each month at the Somervell County AgriLife Extension office, 1405 Texas Drive, Glen Rose. Visitors are welcome. For more information, call 254-897-2809 or visit www.somervellmastergardeners.org.
 
Granbury: The Lake Granbury Master Gardeners meet at 1 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Hood County Annex 1, 1410 West Pearl Street, Granbury. The public is invited to attend. There is an educational program each month preceding the business meeting. For information on topics call 817-579-3280 or visit http://www.hoodcountymastergardeners.org/.

Brownwood: Brownwood Garden Club meets the third Thursday of each month, 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. The club meetings are at Southside Baptist Church, 1219 Indian Creek Road, with refreshments and a speaker presentation. Visitors are welcome. For more information, email boeblingen@centex.net or call 817-454-8175.
 
Hallettsville: The Hallettsville Garden Club meets at 2 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month from September through May, at the Hallettsville Garden and Cultural Center, 107 Fink Street, Hallettsville. Each month, the club hosts speakers that provide informative programs on a wide range of gardening subjects, and refreshments are provided by member hostesses afterwards. Visitors are welcome! Please email Sharon Harrigan at sharonspetals@gmail.com for more information.
 
Houston: The Native Plant Society of Texas - Houston Chapter meets at 6:45 pm on the third Thursday of each month at the American Red Cross Building, 2700 Southwest Fwy. For more information about meeting presentations and native plants, visit http://npsot.org/houston

Mineola: The Fannie Marchman Garden Club meets at the Mineola Civic Center, 9:30-11:30 a.m. the third Wednesday of each month from September through May. For additional information, find them on Facebook or email FannieMarchmanGardenClub@gmail.com.

San Antonio: The Bexar County Master Gardeners (BCMG) meet on the third Thursday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., Suite 208, San Antonio. During the months of Jan., March, May, July, Sep. and Nov., an evening meeting with presentation is held 6:00-8:00 p.m. During the intervening months (Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct.), afternoon educational seminars/general meetings are held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Check http://www.bexarmg.org/ to verify meeting date for any given month, as circumstances could require a change, and to find information on the speaker and topic scheduled for each meeting.
 
Seguin: The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month, at the AgriLife Building, 210 East Live Oak, Seguin. After a brief social hour, the meeting and guest speaker begins at 7 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 830-303-3889 or visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.
 
Fort Worth: The Greater Fort Worth Herb Society meetings are held the third Saturday of each month at Texas Garden Club Inc, 3111 Old Garden Club Rd., Fort Worth (located next to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden), 10:00 a.m. to noon, September through June. For more information, email herbalhen@yahoo.com.
 
FOURTH WEEK
 
New Braunfels: The New Braunfels Chapter of Native Plant Society of Texas meets on the fourth Monday of each month except July and December. Meetings are held at the Westside Community Center, 2932 S. I-35 Frontage Road, New Braunfels. Meetings start at 6:15 p.m. with a meet and greet time, followed by a short business meeting. Programs begin around 7:00. Native plant and seed exchanges are held monthly. Expert speakers present educational programs on topics of interest. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information or to join, visit www.npsot.org.
 
Brackenridge Park: The Native Plant Society San Antonio Chapter meets every fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Lions Field Adult and Senior Center, 2809 Broadway at E. Mulberry, Brackenridge Park, except August and December. Social and seed/plant exchange at 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Bea at 210-999-7292 or visit www.npsot.org/sanantonio.
 
Bryan: The Brazos County Master Gardeners, a program of Texas AgriLife Extension, meet the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Brazos Center, 3232 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan. There is a public gardening program at each meeting and pertinent information may be found at brazosmg.com or 979-823-0129.
 
Edna: The Jackson County Master Gardeners present their "Come Grown With Us" seminars on the fourth Tuesday of each month, January through October, beginning at 7 p.m. at 411 N. Wells, Edna. The seminars are free, open to the public and offer 2 CEU hours to Master Gardeners or others requiring them. For additional information, contact the Jackson County Extension Office at 361-782-3312.
 
Linden: The Caddo Wildflower Chapter of Native Plants Society meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the senior citizens building at 507 S Kaufman St. in Linden at 6:30. Visitors are welcome. For additional information, contact Karen Tromza at khtromza@yahoo.com.
 
San Antonio: The Native Plant Society of Texas San Antonio Chapter meets the fourth Tuesday of each month, except August and December, at the Lions Field Adult & Senior Center, 2809 Broadway, San Antonio. Social and plant/seed exchange at 6:30 p.m., program at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.npsot.org/sanantonio or email npsot.sanantonio@gmail.com.
 
Houston: The Houston Native Prairie Association meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month (except November and December) at the Houston Red Cross Building, 2700 Southwest Freeway, Houston. Refreshments served at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact hnpat@prairies.org.

Austin: The Garden Club of Austin meets at Zilker Botanical Gardens auditorium, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month. 7:00-7:30 p.m. Refreshments and Social, followed by a presentation at 7:30 p.m. Free. For additional information, visit http://thegardenclubofaustin.org/.

Leander: The Leander Garden Club meets on the fourth Thursday of each month (except June, July and August) at 10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Room of the Leander Presbyterian Church, 101 N. West St., Leander, unless there is a special event planned. Following a program and short business meeting, there is a pot-luck luncheon. To confirm the meeting place and time, please call President Kathleen Tully at 512-422-8580 or email LeanderGardenClub@gmail.com.
 
Dallas: The Dallas County Master Gardeners meet the fourth Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. For location and program information, visit http://www.dallascountymastergardeners.org/ or contact The Helpdesk, M-F, 8 to 4:30 214-904-3053.
 
Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month (except November and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact David at 817-483-7746.

Hempstead: The Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation, 20559 F.M. 359, Hempstead, hosts a garden Open Days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month. Drop-in tours are permitted but pre-registration is encouraged. Docent led tours are $10 for guests, free for members. For more information, http://peckerwoodgarden.org/explore/visit-peckerwood-garden/.
 
Dallas: The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month (except November and December) at North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas. For more information, visit www.gdogc.org
Planning Guide & Books of Interest
 
2022 Planning Guide & Calendar
Only $14.95 per copy (includes tax and shipping) 
 
Make gardening easier and more enjoyable in 2022. No more keeping it in your head or, worse yet, juggling all those wrinkled, sweat-stained pieces of paper that seem to accumulate and end up lost. It's time to get organized and the perfect way to start that off is with your very own copy of the 2022 Texas Gardener Planning Guide and Calendar. No more guessing when to plant or do different activities. You will find everything you need in one simple but informative guide and calendar. Plus plenty of room to record your own planting dates, rainfall events and other data for future reference.
Here's a sample of what you will find in this information-packed guide:
  • Many, many practical and timely garden tips that are for Texas - not Maine or California!
  • Organic, earth-friendly tips to make your garden grow and prosper
  • Lots of space to record your own activities for future reference
  • Planting dates and tips for vegetables, flowers, herbs, fruit and lawns
Order today, while it's fresh on your mind. Don't forget to order copies for your gardening friends and relatives!
 

Easy Gardening for Texas
By Joseph G. Masabni

Only $31.94 (includes tax and shipping)

Gardening in the Lone Star State has unique challenges, but that doesn't mean you can't grow vegetables here. This new book tells what varieties are best, how to handle insect and disease problems, and how to control weeds with a minimum of work, plus detailed growing information on a host of vegetables that do well in Texas. This is the perfect guide for gardeners new to the state as well as those more-experienced gardeners looking for a handy guide of research-tested advice. 220 pages with lots of color photos! Click on this link to order https://texasgardener.com/product/easy-gardening-for-texas/.

Easy Edibles
By Judy Barrett

Only $29.75 (includes tax and shipping)

Eating fresh and eating local has really caught on! Easy Edibles: How to Grow and Enjoy Fresh Food focuses on ways to grow some of your own food without devoting a lot of space, time and work to the project. Barrett also covers how and where to find the bounty offered at local farmers markets, farm stands and pick-your-own operations. This book is the perfect gift or guide for folks new to gardening or those who have limited time and resources but still want to eat fresh! Click on this link to order https://texasgardener.com/product/easy-edibles/.

The Texas Tomato Lover's Handbook
By William D. Adams

Only $31.94 (includes tax and shipping)

The best thing for tomato enthusiast since the tomato itself! Adams draws on more than thirty years' experience to provide a complete, step-by-step guide to success in the tomato patch. Learn everything from soil preparation, planting, feeding, caging and watering. Liberally sprinkled with the author's easy humor and illustrated with his own excellent photographs, the must have book has everything you'll need to assure a bumper crop! 189 pages. Lots of color photographs! Click on this link to order https://texasgardener.com/product/texas-tomato-lovers-handbook/.

And check out these other great books available from Texas Gardener:

Worms Eat My Garbage

Grow Great Vegetables Texas

Wicked Bugs

Wicked Plants

Wicked Plants Coloring Book

A Kid's Guide to Keeping Chickens
Texas Gardener's Seeds is published weekly. © Suntex Communications, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. You may forward this publication to your friends and colleagues if it is sent in its entirety. No individual part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. 

Texas Gardener's Seeds has been published each Wednesday since April 26, 2006.
 
Publisher: Jay White ● Editor: Michael Bracken 
 
Texas Gardener's Seeds, P.O. Box 1676, Brenham, Texas 77834-1676