Get your gardening gloves and shovel out, it’s time for early spring planting!  Our greenhouse is stocked full of onion sets and seed potatoes ready for your garden.  Other cold weather crops will arrive mid-February so keep an eye out for those! Even though it’s cool outside, it’s the perfect time to plant cool weather crops.  New to planting Cole Crops? Check out this article from the Texas AgriLife Extension office on easy gardening for cole crops.

Quick Tips For Planting Onions

Prepare the soil: The soil should be worked to a depth of 8-10″ and should have good drainage and be in full sun.

Fertilize: Spread about 2 pounds of fertilizer (10-10-10 or 10-20-10) over a 100 square foot area and mix into the top 3-4″ of soil.

Plant: Pick out the best developed plants and plant 3/4″ to 1″ deep and 2 to 3 inches apart.

Read more tips for planting spring onions here.

Preparing and Planting Potatoes

When purchasing seed potatoes, look for certified seed potatoes. These are seeding potatoes which have not been treated with growth retardants to prevent sprouting. Conventional potatoes in grocery markets are typically treated with retardants.

After you have planned and prepared a garden spot with well-drained, loose soil, the seed potatoes can be prepped for planting:

Cut each seed potato into quarters (sulfur dust can be applied to the fresh cut ends) and let the potato quarters set out overnight or longer until cut sides callus over. Seed potato quarters are then ready to plant— for a good rule of thumb, potato quarters should be planted 3” to 4” deep and spaced 12” to 15” apart. To provide plants plenty of growing room, make sure rows are spaced 24” to 36” apart.

Get ready for spring gardening at J&N Feed and Seed.  Our greenhouse is stocked full of onion sets, seed potatoes, and cold weather crops ready for your garden.  Our cool-weather crops, such as lettuces, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, can be planted now. Look for tomatoes to arrive late March or early April. It’s a little early to get your tomatoes in the ground, but with the warm winter we’ve had, you may be okay planting earlier in the season. In order to get a nice summer harvest, we recommend getting cold weather plants in the ground by mid to late March and tomatoes following in early April. The average date of the last killing freeze in North Texas is March 13th.  The weeks after that will be the best planting times.  Use these next couple of weeks to prepare your garden beds and get the ground ready for planting. Working in soil amendments and natural compost can help give your tired soil the much-needed nutrient boost it needs.

Stop by J&N Feed and Seed for all your gardening needs. We’ve got a greenhouse full of herbs and veggies and various packaged garden seeds! Stop by our greenhouse and let’s get this garden started!

Keep your newly planted trees and shrubs hydrated with Treegator Slow Release Watering Bags. With the scorching summer temperatures here to stay, it’s important to water effectively to keep trees and shrubs hydrated.  J&N Feed and Seed proudly stock the Treegator® Original Slow Release Watering Bag.  Treegator delivers water directly to your plant for 100% absorption and no run-off. Pick up a couple of Treegators today and save your beautiful trees and shrubs from the Texas drought.

Treegator® Original Slow Release Watering Bag for Trees & Shrubs

Properly watering trees and gardens will make all the difference when it comes to the health and stability of plants. Using Deep Drip Stakes, which waters the plant directly at the roots, helps ensure deep roots and plants that are full of life! J&N Feed and Seed now stocks Deep Drip Watering Stakes.

Deep Drip  Water Stakes are designed to help you maintain healthy, beautiful trees and plants by watering them directly at the roots, while conserving up to 50% of your outdoor water usage and protecting the environment.

Wondering what size to use? Deep Drip is available in four convenient sizes!

8″ –  For flowers, fruits, vegetables, and small plants.

14″- Perfect for plants with shallow roots including: potted plants, shrubs, vines and small
trees.

24″ – Works well on all medium to large tree varieties including fruit trees and palms.

36″- For large established trees and palms.

We love spring time at J&N Feed and Seed because it means time for garden planting, fertilizing, and preparing for the bloom of wonderful veggies, flowers and much more.

We have just received a new batch of veggies and various garden seeds! Stop by our greenhouse and let’s get this garden started! Now on hand, we have:

1. A great selection of  vegetables, flowers and herb plants
2. Bulk and Small Package Seeds
3. Organic Seeds……

Stock up on potting soil and mulch too!

Tips on Planting:

Having your very own veggie/herb garden isn’t as complicated as you might think, although it does require dedication. The most important part is planning and making sure you have all of the right materials and information. When setting up your space, it’s important to remember a few key items:

• Do you have enough sun exposure? Vegetables love the sun. They need at least 6 hours of full sun every day, and preferably 8.
• Know your soil. Most soil can be enriched with compost and be fine for planting, but some soil needs more help. Check with us at J&N Feed and Seed.  We carry a variety of different types of soils and we can help you find the best match for your growing needs.
• Placement is everything. Avoid planting too near a tree, which will steal nutrients and shade the garden. In addition, a garden too close to the house will help to discourage wild animals from nibbling away your potential harvest.
• Decide between tilling and a raised bed. If you have poor soil or a bad back, a raised bed built with non-pressure-treated wood offers many benefits. We carry Yellawood Landscape Timbers, perfect for a raised bed.
• Vegetables and fruits need lots of water, at least 1 inch of water a week. Make sure you have a good irrigation or watering system. IF you have a spot that is in full sun, consider an Olla irrigation pot, sold right here at J&N.

For more information on gardening, come visit us at J&N Feed and Seed.