KLRU: Central Texas Gardener > Question/Plant of the Week

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Q. When can I start my fall garden, and what can I grow?

A. In Austin, check out the Austin Organic Gardeners site, www.austinorganicgardeners.org, for a planting list and planting dates. Call your local Extension Office for a list.

See our link in Skip’s section to reach your office. In Austin, the number is (512) 854-9600.

Also in Austin, check out the Travis County Master Gardener’s Guide, available at many local nurseries. It includes a planting guide for each month. State-wide, visit the bookstore for Dale Groom’s Month-by-Month Gardening in Texas (Cool Springs Press, 2000).

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Philippine Violet (Barleria cristata)
Philippine violet is a root hardy perennial that forms an attractive upright shrub reaching about 3 feet tall.

The dark green foliage is very attractive and virtually pest and disease free. But it’s in late summer to fall that the real show begins, as it loads up with an abundance of blue flowers.

A white blooming form is also available. Keep the soil moderately moist and mulch plants well to protect them over the winter. This plant is currently underutilized but sure to grow in popularity fast!

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Prep the winter vegetable garden by stirring in compost, greensand or other minerals, and an organic fertilizer to blend for a few weeks.
Finish light pruning of spring-blooming perennials like salvias, and dead-head others, like pavonia, and turks’s cap.

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