Texas grower here

I have started my three gardens. We are doing ok just starting out I produced my first tomatoe. I take care of my 80 year old Mom and 11 year old daughter so we need food! They have actually grown twice as big since these pictures. I'm so proud.

Howdy Katherine welcome to permies !

katherine lyle wrote:I have started my three gardens. We are doing ok just starting out I produced my first tomatoe. I take care of my 80 year old Mom and 11 year old daughter so we need food! They have actually grown twice as big since these pictures. I'm so proud.

Twice as big? I've never seen kids or old ladies put on meat so fast. You must be feeding them well.

Actually the gardens grew. I harvested and refers the soil and now growing again.

Hi Katherine
Where are you in Tx? I am in FW but moving to Houston. What are you growing?

I harvested a lot of squash and ate it. I learned not to let it grow too much as it gets hard and full of seeds. There are plants still creeping in that one garden as I have three. I also learned the soil is depleted of nutrients once the harvest is taken. All energy goes into the plants. I replant 1/3 of the harvest and replenish soil with leaves and old rotten wood with bugs. Recently with compost. I have to work the soil and care for it constantly. Other garden is Lima beans, potatoes, melons, Alvarado trees and lemon trees. I am keeping a good supply of potted plants for the winter coming. They are an orange tree, brockley, Brussels sprouts,lettuse, and water melons.My soil got very clay like in the gardens so I put compost soil on top with cow manure in it. I poked around and loosened it up a bit but I really got to get out their and mix the soil and dig some trenches tomorrow. It's a lot of dig work but I like it.
I'm in Vidor Texas near Houston about one and an half hour from Houston.