As part of the Mayor’s Monarch Butterfly Pledge initiative, we welcome gardeners to help the monarch butterfly population by planting native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in their home gardens and at the community gardens. For more information, please check https://harkerheights.gov/monarchbutterfly.

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Trying to figure out what to plant, but not sure where to start?

Check out these helpful resources to help you with your garden:

 

Square Foot Gardening

Companion Planting Guide

Water Conservation

Fruit Production

Container Gardening

Trees of Central Texas

Fire Ant Control

Rainwater Collection

Is Community Gardening for you?
Year Round Growing in Central Texas

A Garden plot requires time and constant effort throughout the year in order to produce a healthy harvest.

Basic Tasks:

Preparing your plot:
You need to start with a clear plot. Loosen your soil and add compost before you plant to make your plants healthier and more resistant to pests and diseases.

Planting:
You must take care in planning your garden, placing plants in places wehre they will grow best, and planting them at the appropriate time of year.

Providing water:
Seedbeds must be hand-watered daily until sprouts appear above ground. Seedlings must be hand watered daily for the first two weeks. During hot and dry periods, you may be required to water your seedlings more often.

Weeding:
Time will be needed to keep weeds down in your plot and its surrounding pathways. By addressing weeds when you prepare your plot, you will save on time and effort later on.

Harvesting:
 As plants mature and begin to produce, you must be there to harvest the fruits of your labor – the best reward of gardening! Keeping ripe produce picked reduces garden pests and vandalism.

Time:
 As with any other part of life, the more time you invest in gardening, the better your garden plot will be. Below you will find a general estimate of what having a garden plot will require: