Do you love fresh and nutritious vegetables? Enjoy the fruits of gardening and grow your own vegetable garden! As spring approaches and we enter the month of March, it is the perfect time to start creating a plan for your edibles. Begin your delicious journey with cool season vegetables and be ready for the warmer weather food from your garden. Unsure of what to plant and when? Here is a gardening guide with our favorite Chef Jeff’s® Vegetables. We will give you an idea of what is arriving now, when to plant your selections, and tips for your vegetable gardening success!
CHEF JEFF’S® VEGETABLES
Chef Jeff’s® Vegetables are the finest and best vegetables for your culinary inspiration. Their tried-and-true varieties are GMO Free and created for your gardening success! With the proper care, these plants can produce high yields and quality fruit.
DELICIOUS EATS: GROW A VEGETABLE GARDEN
COOL SEASON VEGETABLES
Now is the time to plant cool season vegetables like broccoli and lettuce. The best time to plant for an early harvest is early to late March, and after the last freeze.
Lettuce like Chef Jeff’s® Red Salad Bowl, thrives in temperatures between 40 to 85 degrees. Broccoli enjoys temperatures up to 75 degrees. With ideal conditions, these cool season varieties will grow and produce quickly for a tasty harvest.
WARM SEASON VEGETABLES
Tomatoes
Did you know tomatoes are the most popular vegetable crop in Texas? They are a great source of essential vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin C. We love to use tomatoes in salads, sandwiches, sauces, or sliced with a little salt and pepper. YUM! Tomatoes should be planted in mid to late March, after the last frost.
One reason tomatoes are a favorite choice in many Texas vegetables gardens is due to the countless varieties available. It is fun to try new varieties while you explore the different flavors. We are all familiar with the classic and traditional varieties like Roma Plum, Better Boy, Beefy Box, and Beef Master which produce big and juicy red fruits.
Have you tried heirloom tomatoes? Check out our various heirloom selections from Chef Jeff’s® like Caspian Pink, San Marzano, and Black Krim tomatoes. Heirloom tomatoes are prized for their unique colors, texture, sizes, and flavors. Their seeds are passed down from season to season and taken from the plants that produced the best fruit. They are open pollinated which means they are naturally pollinated by birds, insects, and wind. Heirloom tomatoes can provide a wildly colorful display in any dish.
Do you want to grow an extra colorful tomato garden? Go yellow! Explore the unique varieties of yellow tomatoes like Yellow Pear, Lemon Boy, and Sungold!
Peppers
As Texans, it is safe to say that we love peppers! From sweet and crisp peppers to spicy jalapenos, peppers are a welcomed addition to many of our favorite meals. They are a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and other beneficial minerals.
You can enjoy peppers raw, in salads, salsas, or you can even stuff them with a delicious filling. Peppers grow best in warm weather. Plant in mid-March and after the last freeze.
Plant for flavor in your vegetable garden and choose from the mild flavor of bell peppers like Red Beauty Bell Peppers from Chef Jeff’s®.
Craving some spice? Explore the hotter side like Serrano, Tabasco, and Jalapeno peppers.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are an extremely versatile vegetable. They are easy to grow when they receive plentiful sun and warmth. Cucumbers should be planted in late March when the weather and soil temperatures start to warm up. They mature quickly and can be eaten fresh or preserved as pickles. Cucumbers are a vining crop and require more space to grow. The vines can reach 6 to 8 feet long.
Check out the different cucumber varieties like Bush Pickle and Burpless. Chef Jeff’s® Burpless Cucumbers are ideal for slicing and snacking. They are great in salads, sandwiches, and paired with dips. Bush Pickles are ideal for, you guessed it, pickling! If you want to make homemade pickles and have limited space, try growing Bush Pickles!
Explore all our different vegetable varieties at a Calloway’s or Cornelius near you! We have watermelon plants, sugar snap peas, and more – with fresh deliveries all spring long!
PLANTING TIPS FOR YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN
- Before getting started, clean the planting area, and remove any weeds, rocks, and debris.
- Prep and replenish the soil with Calloway’s Organic Garden Compost and Expanded Shale, as directed. If planting in containers, use Calloway’s Organic Container Potting Soil.
- Plant in an area that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.
- Apply Calloway’s Premium Organic Hardwood Mulch to protect the root system and to help retain moisture in the soil.
- Water regularly to avoid wilting. It is best to water your plants slowly and deeply to ensure the development of a strong root system.
- Use tomato cages, a trellis, or stakes to support your fruiting plants like tomatoes and cucumbers.
- Feed your plants as directed with Calloway’s Natural & Organic Lawn & Garden Food or Espoma® Organic® Garden-tone® Herb & Vegetable Food.
SHOP FOR EDIBLE PLANTS WITH EASE
At Calloway’s Nursery and Cornelius Nursery, we have everything you need start a vegetable garden! Shop our local community plant stores or shop online for Curbside Pickup or Delivery!
Stop by today and explore our entire selection of premium vegetable plants, soils, garden tools, and more! Questions? Ask our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals; they are here to help!
