Gardening in South Texas: Programs to help prepare for spring

Spring is truly on its way, no matter what the weather feels like today. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has several gardening programs in March to help guide us through the gardening process. No matter what your level of experience, they are offering programs for beginners and more experienced gardeners.

>> March 6, 10 a.m.: Leading the lineup is a presentation titled “Starting Your Garden” by Extension horticulturist, Ashley Gregory, M.S. This program is hosted by the Palmview Municipal Library, 603 Palmview Commercial Drive in Palmview. For information, call (956) 432-0315. If you have been wanting to establish a garden and just do not know where to start, this program will give you what you need to get inspired and keep you from making some costly mistakes as you navigate our South Texas growing conditions. Registration is not necessary for this free program. This library moved into a new building last year, so call them if you need directions.

>> March 12, 1:30 p.m.: “Ten Steps for a Successful Vegetable Garden” is the title of a presentation by Ricardo Carranza, Program Assistant with the Better Living for Texans Program (BLT), under Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. This program is hosted by the Sgt. Fernando De la Rosa Memorial Library, 416 N. Tower Road in Alamo. No registration is necessary for this free program, just be sure to put this on your calendar if you are thinking of starting a vegetable garden.

>> March 15: The Master Gardeners, volunteers for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, will provide a Tree Pruning Workshop on

March 15. This will likely start at 9 a.m. and will be given at their demonstration garden and classroom located behind the North San Juan Community Center, at 509 East Earling (part of the Nolana Loop).

>> March 22: “Spring Vegetable Gardening” is another program on the Master Gardener lineup this spring and it is likely going to begin at 9 a.m. in their demonstration garden behind the North San Juan Community. Both programs will require registration.

If you are interested in attending either of these programs given by the Master Gardeners (March 15 or March 22), you can contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office and ask them to notify you when registration is available for the program you want to attend. These programs fill up fast so be sure to sign up as soon as you can.

Gardening in south Texas can be challenging but the Texas A & M AgriLife Extension Service has been effectively serving the south Texas community with educational programs for over 100 years. The information they provide is backed by research and experience. No matter what kind of garden you want to create, a quiet serenity garden, a vegetable garden, or a pollinator garden, they have information that can get you started in the right direction.

For those who follow my column for information about the Farmers Market in McAllen’s Firemen’s Park, the market is closed Saturday, Feb. 22, due to inclement weather. It will re-open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 1.

Barbara Storz, M. S. is a horticulturist writing about plants and programs in South Texas. You can follow her on Facebook.

The post Gardening in South Texas: Programs to help prepare for spring appeared first on MyRGV.com.