SAN ANTONIO – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present the “Let’s Grow Some Vegetables” program, part of the Backyard Gardening series, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 26 at the agency office, Suite 208 of Conroy Square, 3355 Cherry Ridge Drive, San Antonio.
The “Let’s Grow Some Vegetables” program, part of the Backyard Basics self-reliance series, will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office for Bexar County on the evening of March 26. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo)
Backyard Gardening programs are part of the Backyard Basics self-reliance series now being piloted in several South Central Texas counties, including Atascosa, Bexar, Comal, Kendall and Wilson.
“There is a lot involved in the proper planning and planting of a vegetable garden,” said David Rodriguez, AgriLife Extension agent for horticulture in Bexar County. “This program will help backyard and other small-acreage vegetable growers determine what, how much and where to plant their vegetables.”
Rodriguez said there has been renewed interest in planting backyard vegetable gardens.
“People want to have more input and, where possible, control, over the foods they consume,” he said. “A backyard garden allows you to choose the types of vegetables you want to grow and determine how you want to grow them.”
Rodriguez said one of the main issues home gardeners deal with in placing a backyard vegetable garden is positioning it where the plants will receive sufficient sunlight.
“Sometimes the shade from large trees or shadows from the house cast over large parts of the yard can keep a vegetable garden from getting the necessary amount of sunlight,” he said. “Vegetables need sun and lots of it. The more direct sun they get, the better the yield.”
The cost is $10 and is payable at the door. Make checks out to Texas A&M AgriLife.
Backyard Basics programs focused on producing, preparing and preserving home-grown and homemade foods are being piloted in several South Central Texas counties. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo)
Rodriguez said programs on growing vegetables, herbs and fruit trees are among Backyard Basics offerings. Other Backyard Basics programs address raising chickens for eggs and meat, preparing and preserving fruits and vegetables, rainwater collection and homemade and home-cooked foods.
For more information and to register for this program, contact Angel Torres at 210-467-6575.
For more information on upcoming Backyard Basics programs, go to http://backyardbasics.tamu.edu
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