By amending the clay soil correctly, you can grow healthy vegetables in Houston.
Vegetables require six to eight hours of sunlight a day, making Houston, with its hot Texas sun, a good region for vegetable gardening. But growing vegetables in Houston also requires amendments to the clay soil and frequent watering. According to Texas A&M University Extension, "the ideal garden area gets full or nearly full sunlight and has deep, well-drained, fertile soil." Choose vegetables you and your family like to eat. Decide together to make growing and caring for vegetables a family activity. Pick vegetables that grow well together and require the same growing conditions. By properly preparing the Texas clay soil and frequent watering, you will raise healthy, nutritious vegetables for your family to enjoy.
Instructions
1. Choose a location in your yard that has well-drained soil and full sun for six to eight hours a day. Make sure the area is not at the bottom of a hill or slope.
2. Amend the clay soil by mixing in "1 to 2 inches of good sand and 2 to 3 inches of organic matter to soil surface in late winter or early spring," according to recommendations from Texas A&M University (TAMU) Extension. Mix it in at a depth of 6 to 8 inches. For heavier soils, TAMU suggests adding in 6 to 8 pounds of gypsum per 100 square feet.
3. Apply 1 to 2 pounds of preplant fertilizer per 100 square feet, according to TAMU Extension. Treat with a 10-20-10 or 12-24-12 fertilizer. Follow the manufacturer's directions for proper usage. Wait a few days before planting vegetable seeds or seedlings.
4. Plant seeds or seedlings at the depth and spacing recommended on the label. Water deeply, about 6 inches when first planted. Water daily for the first two weeks to establish the roots. The National Gardening Association suggests watering with a gently spray or watering can so you don't disturb the soil, keeping it moist but not oversaturated. Check the garden daily during the hot Houston summer to determine if the ground is dry or moist and water accordingly.
5. Apply a 1- to 2-inch layer of organic mulch (pine straw, compost, peat moss) around the plants in order to prevent weeds and to keep ground moist.
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