It’s About Thyme
by CHRIS WINSLOW
Brrr! Last month’s low temperatures begged the question “Why is Oklahoma so interested in Central Texas that it has sent its weather to visit us two winters in a row?”
My winter vegetable garden has taken it on the chin.
Lettuce was fried to a crisp and the onion tops were burnt back to the ground, though they are showing some welcome signs of new green growth.
The only plant to survive and indeed flourish through this bitter cold has been the triple curled parsley. That’s definitely good news for the black swallow-tail butterfly larvae, which will now have something tasty to eat.
For the second year in a row my palm trees show signs of burn, but have made it out alive.
The Mexican and California fan palms (Washingtonia filifera and robusta), the Pindo palms (Butia capitata), and the Canary Island Phoenix palms (Phoenix canaryiensis) all show signs of winter foliage burn. However their tops should re-grow by midsummer.
It’s the same story with our sago ‘palms’ (Cycas revoluta). I’m just going to trim the brown foliage off and they will grow a new top when the weather warms up.
The only two palms that have made it through the last two winter cold spells unscathed have been the Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerpos humilis) and the Windmill palm (Trachycarpus excelsa).
For those of you tired of trimming your palms every spring, always a difficult and unpopular task, these two are the ones to look for.
The Mediterranean fan palm can reach a height of 10 to 12 feet and grows in a cluster. They make beautiful specimens and screens. The windmill palm grows a solitary trunk to 15 feet in height. Their trunks are furry which gives them the name ‘monkey palm.’
It feels like spring is around the corner. If you haven’t planted your potatoes or applied corn gluten for summer weed control – time is running out.
I have noticed that the early birds have been out scouting the tomato varieties for spring.
There is quite a buzz going on about a new tomato release this year called Tycoon. This is a determinate tomato that grows large firm fruit with high yield potential and heat set ability, and it has a ton of disease resistance built into it.
Looks like a good season on the ground. Boy am I excited!
Happy spring gardening everyone.
If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to [email protected]. Or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748. www.itsaboutthyme.com
