Houston Vegetable Garden – Growing vegetables gardens in Houston

I picked the first mess of green beans from the Houston vegetable garden on April 17, about 2 weeks earlier than last year.  I started 24 Contender plants under the grow light in deep 6-pack pots.  They really got a jump start on the plants from seeds planted directly.  However, beans from the direct sown plants should be available next week.

Tomatoes are doing well but are still a long way from picking.  The sugar snaps are through; plants are still healthy (no mildew), but no more blooms.  Broccoli production continues from the side shoots.  Packman broccoli is particularly good at producing a continuing yield of side shoots.  Onions are getting thicker, but have not really made bulbs yet.  The late sown lettuce is ready to pick and will probably bolt soon.  Lots of blooms from cilantro and arugula to feed the good bugs.

The sugar snap peas are coming in faster than we can eat them.  Even though it is only a 10′ row, it is supplying 3 families! As advertised, the “super” sugar snaps have not gotten mildew.

I plant some tendergreens (aka mustard-spinach) about a month ago as a test.  I also planted turnips and thought these were turnips until I looked more closely a them.  I picked them and got a basket full from just a few square feet of space.  As the name suggests they are very tender and need to be cooking only a short time, much like spinach.  Broccoli is in full production.  The beans I started indoors are blooming.  The one nipped by the cold weather are now coming along well.