I’m in Georgetown and just set up a small raised garden bed (6×3). Filled it with some soil and compost that I was accumulating for about a year. Still pretty new to gardening but trying to grow stuff I’ll actually use for cooking.
So far I grabbed a few things from a local/RR HEB:
Roma tomatoes
Basil
2 golden cayenne pepper plants
I also have a plant in a pot that I think might be okra (not 100% sure ), so if anyone can confirm that would help too.
Looking to add more pepper plants and possibly cucumber (not from seed, just starters I can plant directly), mainly stuff I can use for curries like:
Naga pepper
Thai chili
Serrano
Jalapeño
(Anything similar that does well in Central Texas heat)
Any good local spots (nurseries or even specific HEBs) with a good pepper or any vegetable selection?
Anything I should avoid planting together in a bed this size?
I know it’s somewhat late into the season but appreciate any advice — and love seeing everyone’s garden
by shughustles
3 Comments
I’m a terrible gardener, but my experience so far:
-Jalepenos are super easy and grow all day
-I’ve had great success with Anaheim and Banana peppers, which are less spicy so I use them more often.
-mixed success with serranos
– first year with okra but it seems to be crushing
Lakline and Leander (on Hero Way, not the new one) HEB locations are both great for starts. McIntier’s (or however its spelled) is on 2243/Leander Road, not far from the square, the place is small but nice, I try to support the local guys whenever possible. Calloway’s (I believe Cedar Park is the closest to you) is having a sale on their starts right now I believe.
I started with a similar sized bed and simply ignored all conventional wisdom. Some things died (broccoli, cauliflower), some thrived (cucumbers, zucchini), some just kind of sat there ( big tomatoes, peppers).
If you want some “easy wins” get a cherry tomato (super 100 was good to me) and get ready to control the sheer mass of stems/leaves, Zucchini will produce until it just dies from pest pressure/sad emotions (your neighbors will get tired of you “gifting” zucchini), and consider some cucumbers (be prepared for them to vine all over unless you get a bush variety).
Expect nothing, be surprised when you succeed. Even if you do everything “the right way” it all might die. Just strap in for the ride and enjoy evening cocktails while “gardening”.
Your okra appears to be a sunflower.
And I’ve not run into a single pepper that doesn’t grow well here. I have 18-20 different varieties going at any given point, a mix of spicy and sweet, and they all do well. Jalapeños and Serranos are insanely prolific plants and easy to grow, so I’d definitely grab those if you can find them.