It’s Almost Spring Planting Time

A couple of Saturdays ago, Janessa and I drove to Brenham for lunch and to visit a garden store, Plants ‘N Things. I had never been there before, and what a treat it was.

This time of year, of course, there aren’t too many plants for sale anywhere. But I was surprised they had so much to offer. We bought a few celery plants. I was even more pleased at their selection of garden products. I picked up a gallon jug of Garrett Juice Plus by Medina. I never see it for sale at any of the stores here.

Garrett Juice, formulated by the famous “Dirt Doctor” Howard Garrett, is basically an enriched compost tea. You can make compost tea yourself by soaking compost with water. Some people aerate it, and some people don’t. Garrett Juice also contains molasses, apple cider vinegar and seaweed. You could add these products to your own compost tea. Garrett recommends using the product as a foliar spray. I like to use it as a drench when transplanting.

Medina’s Garrett Juice Plus contains a small amount of fish emulsion fertilizer. I think it’s a wonderful product. The compost tea, apple cider, molasses and seaweed contain all sorts of micronutrients that help plants reach their full genetic potential. Again, you could make all of this yourself, and I have before. Garrett says apple cider vinegar is the most important ingredient. He calls it a “synergist” that makes the other ingredients work better.

I really should make my own Garrett Juice. But the product from Medina is so convenient.

I also noticed that Plants ‘N Things had a bunch of seed potatoes in stock. It reminded me that spring is almost upon us. Local wisdom dictates Presidents’ Day as the appropriate time to plant potatoes. Presidents’ Day is the third Monday in February, and this year it falls on Feb. 19. I think it’s safe to plant potatoes anytime during the middle of February. I know some folks who successfully planted potatoes at the end of January. Needless to say, potato planting time is almost here, so I need to make some space in the garden!

I included a list of planting dates for the spring as recommended by Texas A&M University. If you recall my column from a few weeks ago, the USDArecently re-zone Fayette County from Plant Hardiness Zone 8b to Zone 9a. I included two sets of dates – the old ones are based on Zone 8b and the new ones on Zone 9a. I think of these dates as a rule of thumb, not some commandment that should never be broken.