Turn your 'victory garden' into a 'vitamin garden' with no-fail, high-nutrition veggies and herbs

Bonnie Plants

It's a well-known fact that few Americans actually get the recommended daily dose of vitamins. Many turn to over-the-counter supplements to fill in nutritional gaps. But wouldn't it be better - not to mention tastier - to get needed nutrients from what you eat? This season, why not turn your vegetable and herb garden into a "vitamin garden?"

Fortunately, many vitamin-packed vegetables and herbs are easy to grow. Hardy, bountiful varieties like those from Bonnie Plants make it even easier to claim vitamin victory in your veggie garden. Studies show that gardeners tend to eat more fruits and vegetables than non-gardeners, and nothing beats the flavor and freshness of home-grown veggies, fruits and herbs. In addition to the many health benefits gardening delivers, such as gentle exercise, fresh air and sunshine, growing your own vegetables can help ensure you meet vitamin requirements.

While gardening is great exercise, starting a garden is actually an easy task. With just an hour a day, you can start a small backyard garden, or even grow your own vegetables in pots. Just start with transplants, instead of seed, they'll save time, effort, and provide you with an earlier harvest - choose a sunny spot with good drainage, and make sure the soil is in shape to receive plants, by soil-kit testing, and amending when necessary. Feed your food plants, water regularly and don't forget to patrol for pests.

Ready for your garden? Try these gardener-friendly, high-powered vegetables and herbs that can ensure your diet is full of flavorful, vitamin-rich foods:

Herbs

Basil. Low in calories and cholesterol-free, basil is a rich source of many essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. It contains exceptionally high levels of beta-carotene and vitamin A.

Oregano. High in anti-oxidants, oregano has both antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Rosemary. Another antioxidant herb, rosemary is used to fight inflammation. It's a good source of vitamin A, thiamin and magnesium.

Veggies

Bonnie Spinach. Spinach contains more than half the recommended daily value of vitamin A and is high in vitamins C, K , E, folate, manganese, magnesium, iron and potassium. Naturally low in calories, spinach grows well in spring, summer and fall, producing high yields of large, nutrient-rich leaves.

Tomatoes. Considered a super food, tomatoes deliver high doses of vitamins C, A, K and B6, and minerals such as potassium and lycopene. Hugely versatile, they're a great ingredient in a variety of culinary styles, or equally yummy eaten on their own. Bonnie Plants has a range of new, easy-to-grow tomato varieties for 2014, including the Biltmore (which ripens a large amount of fruit all at once), and the San Marzano, producing high yields and keeps producing right up until first frost. Check out the "Tomato Chooser" tool on Bonnie Plants' website to make it easy to find the variety you want. Select traits you're seeking and the tool will list the varieties that match!

Peppers. Another versatile veggie available in a wealth of varieties, peppers deliver fiber, folate, manganese, potassium, copper and vitamins A, C, K and B6. Many types, such as Bonnie Green Bell peppers, are very easy to grow, and others, like the Giant Marconi, deliver high yield and produce early in the season.

Squash. Popular and prolific varieties like zucchini and yellow squash require minimal care to produce hefty harvests. Green zucchini deliver vitamins C, K and B 6, as well as folate, manganese and potassium. Yellow squash - either crookneck or straight neck - are easy to grow, early to mature and particularly high in vitamin C.

And what's the one vitamin every single veggie and herb in your garden delivers? You can count vitamin D - the true "sunshine vitamin" - among the nutritional benefits of vegetables, herbs and gardening. While you're outside working in the garden, your body is turning all that sunlight into much-needed vitamin D.

Added to the vitamin value of veggies and herbs are the exercise and relaxation that derive from gardening. This summer, why not focus on growing your vitamins rather than getting them from a bottle? They'll taste better than anything that comes from the pharmacy, plus you'll reap health, wellness, and the many mental and physical benefits of gardening.

For more information on varieties, how-to's, trouble shooting and even recipes, visit www.bonnieplants.com.

By Paul Schattenberg

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 

More than 250 people visited the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at 17360 Coit Road in Dallas during the center's Turf, Landscape and Irrigation Expo held May 16-17.

The first day's program was targeted to turfgrass industry professionals, while the second day focused on metroplex-area homeowners.

"All of the presentations and activities during this two-day expo were tied to water efficiency and making the most of our urban water resources," said Clint Wolfe, the center's urban water programs manager. The first day's program was targeted to turfgrass industry professionals, while the second day focused on metroplex-area homeowners.

Both days included educational presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and tours and explanations of center research related to the expo's theme of water efficiency in the urban environment. Display booths representing the center and companies or organizations supporting turfgrass, landscaping and irrigation industries were also part of expo activities.

"The sort of research and education done here at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center is of great benefit to the turfgrass industry since this is where many commercial varieties are bred and developed," said John Cosper, executive director, Turfgrass Producers of Texas, an expo attendee and exhibitor. "And it's especially important that the center is focusing on developing even more water-efficient varieties like the new DALSA 0605 St. Augustine turfgrass."

On May 16, about 100 turfgrass industry attendees were introduced to AgriLife turf varieties and how turfgrasses are bred to improve drought tolerance. They were also provided instruction on sprayer and spreader calibration; managing turfgrass diseases, weeds and pests; and on the "tools, gadgets and products" turf managers should have.

They also learned about turfgrass water requirements, irrigation auditing and soil moisture technology, as well as irrigation using subsurface drip and rainwater harvesting. Additional presentations addressed plants that beat the heat and grow better in the shade, identifying landscape irrigation problems, increasing soil water-holding capacity and landscape stormwater management.

The following day, more than 150 area homeowners learned about irrigation system components, irrigation quick fixes, plant selection and landscape design, lawn maintenance and the use of drip irrigation. They too were given an up-close look at the many varieties of turfgrass being field-tested on the center's grounds and were given the opportunity to ask questions of the various Texas A&M University System experts from the center, College Station and elsewhere.

"This statewide event was designed to highlight new drought-tolerant turfgrass varieties from the Texas A&M AgriLife breeding program, as well as innovations in irrigation technology and new landscape best management practices," said Dr. Ambika Chandra, Texas A&M AgriLife Research associate professor of turfgrass breeding and genetics at the center. "The event helps industry professionals and homeowners how to select and maintain turfgrasses in order to cope with harsh environmental conditions and water restrictions."

"Field day attendees were able to see and learn about all five different species of turfgrasses - Bermuda grass, zoysia grass, St. Augustine grass, Seashore paspalum and hybrid bluegrass - being evaluated at the center, along with commercially available varieties," Chandra said. "In particular, the new water-efficient DALSA 0605 St. Augustine was of interest to both professionals and homeowners."

"This statewide event was designed to highlight new drought-tolerant turfgrass varieties from the Texas A&M AgriLife breeding program, as well as innovations in irrigation technology and new landscape best management practices," said Dr. Ambika Chandra, Texas A&M AgriLife Research associate professor of turfgrass breeding and genetics at the center. "The event helps industry professionals and homeowners how to select and maintain turfgrasses in order to cope with harsh environmental conditions and water restrictions."

Both groups also were given the opportunity to tour the WaterSense-labeled home on the center's grounds, Wolfe said.

"This is the first WaterSense-labeled home in North Texas and we are also awaiting an EPA WaterSense designation for the multi-family unit we have built next to it," he said, "These dwellings include water-saving features both inside and out, including low water use landscaping, drip irrigation and irrigation using a rainwater harvesting system."

He said other water-saving research and education at the center relates to irrigation system design and management, porous pavements, green roofs, protecting urban streams and reservoirs from erosion and sedimentation, water and nutrient management in urban landscapes, developing more resource-efficient landscapes and the use and management of alternate - reclaimed, recycled, poor quality - irrigation water sources for urban landscapes.

La Marque: Galveston County Master Gardener Loretta Osteen will present "The Fabulous Fragrant Frangipani (Plumeria)," a program covering the history and culture of the plant, 6:30-8:30 p.m., June 3, at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension Office in Carbide Park, 4102 Main St. (FM 519), La Marque. To register or for more information, call 281-534-3413, ext. 12, or email GALV3@wt.net. 

Glen Rose: Paul Dowlearn, author of The Lazy Man's Garden: Maximum Return, Minimum Input, Owner of Wichita Valley Nursery, Wichita Falls, and member of Red River Chapter, NPSOT, will be the speaker at the June 6 meeting of the Prairie Rose Chapter of NPSOT. As his book and career in landscaping emphasize, Dowlearn will talk on xeriscaping and adjusting attitudes to practical gardening. The 6:30 p.m. meeting will be held at the Somervell County Citizen Center, 205 SW Barnard, Glen Rose.

Austin: The Garden Club of Austin's annual show & plant sale will be held June 7 and 8 at Zilker Park Botanical Gardens, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin. The juried plant, vegetable & flower show is open to all amateur gardeners. Show contest plants will be accepted Friday, June 5, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, June 7, from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Plant sale hours will be Saturday from 9 until 5 and Sunday from 10 until 5. Enter your favorite plant or vegetable or buy some beautiful, very well priced items at the plant sale. More information is available at www.thegardenclubofaustin.org. Click on events and scroll down to the garden show. 

Austin: The Austin Pond Society will host its 20th Annual Pond Tour in June and will feature ponds and gardens at more than 20 locations in North, Central and South Austin. Ponds of every size and description are included in the tour, along with waterfalls, streams, and fountains. Some gardens are Certified Wildlife Habitats, and most have native plants.Tour Dates and Times: Saturday, June 7 - South and Central Austin (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Saturday Night - Night pond locations (8 p.m. to 10 p.m.) Sunday, June 8 - North Austin (9 .am. to 5 p.m.) Wristbands for the three events are $15 in advance and can be purchased using PayPal at austinpondsociety.org; at Emerald Garden, Hill Country Water Gardens, McIntire's Garden Center, Shoal Creek Nursery, and The Great Outdoors. Wristbands can be purchased at each site during the event for $20. Wristbands for children 12 and under are free with a paid adult. Volunteers who work a four-hour shift on either day of the tour will receive entry to all of the tour sites, a tour T-shirt, and an invitation to the SPLASH! Party on May 31. Sign up at volunteers@austinpondsociety.org. For more information visit austinpondsociety.org.

Bastrop: The third annual Heart of Texas Green Expo is slated for June 7, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut Street, Bastrop. Attendees will enjoy music, food and fun children's activities while learning how to go green and help the environment at this premier educational forum for recycling and sustainable living in Central Texas. Admission is free for all ages. Informative presentations, demonstrations and 60+ exhibits will cover a wide range of topics, including alternative energy, recycling, green building, water conservation, organic gardening, sustainable farming and eco-friendly ranching. Exhibitor Air Wind & Solar will give away a turnkey home solar power system installation valued at $8,000 to one lucky attendee of this year's Heart of Texas Green Expo. The 2014 Green Expo will feature expert speakers to provide information on organic gardening, water conservation and environmental education. This year's keynote speaker is Central Texas gardening expert John Dromgoole, owner of The Natural Gardener in Austin and founder of Lady Bug Natural Brand soils, compost and other gardening products. He is also the well-known host of the long-running weekly radio call-in show "Gardening Naturally" online and on KLBJ-AM 590 radio in Austin. Other speakers include Texas State Representative Bill Callegari and environmental educator Gina LaMotte. LaMotte is founder and executive director of EcoRise Youth Innovations, an organization developing school-based teaching curricula to introduce students in grades K-12 to sustainability, design innovation and social entrepreneurship. For more information, visit www.heartoftexasgreenexpo.org .  

Dallas: City of Dallas Water Utilities, City of Dallas Stormwater Management, City of Dallas Park & Recreation, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and Dallas County Master Gardeners are teaming up to demonstrate the beauty of Water-Wise and EarthKind gardening with the 20th annual Water-Wise Landscape Tour. Dallas County Master Gardeners will be conducting free 30-minute talks on Water-Wise gardening every hour on the hour at each of the tour headquarters. Dallas County Master Gardener volunteers will also be assisting homeowners and helping answer questions about the plants and landscapes on the tour. The first 100 visitors at each of the three tour headquarters, June 7, will receive a free hose spray nozzle. For more information, visit SaveDallasWater.com or call the Water Conservation Hotline at 214-670-3155 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Maps for the self-driving tour are available at SaveDallasWater.com and at all tour headquarters. Tour Headquarters: Central: White Rock Pump Station - 2900 White Rock Rd., Dallas; North: Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center - 17360 Coit Rd., Dallas; South: Lake Cliff Park - E. Colorado Blvd. at N. Zang Blvd., Dallas.  

Rosenberg: Fort Bend Master Gardeners will present "Native Plants" at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7, at Agriculture Center, 1402 Band Road, Rosenberg. The presentation will increase understanding of the appeal and value of plants native to Texas. Texas Native Garden and other demonstration gardens open for tours and Master Gardeners available for tips and advice from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Call 281-341-7068 or visit  http://www.fbmg.com/ for more information.

Marion: Matt Turner, author of "Remarkable Plants of Texas," will introduce some of Texas's most amazing plants, their little-known histories, and their medicinal, cultural and culinary uses during his presentation at 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 10, at St John's Lutheran Church, FM 465, Marion. Meetings are open to the public. Visitors are welcome. There is a plant/seed exchange and greeting at 6:30 p.m. followed by the program. For more information, directions to St John's Lutheran Church, or membership applications, visit http://npsot.org/wp/guadalupe/.

Seabrook: "Herbs - Garden to Table" will be presented at 6:30 p.m., June 10, at Clear Lake Park Meeting Room, 5001 Nasa Parkway, Seabrook. For additional information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/pubp2.aspx.

Humble: Mark Klym, Texas Parks & Wildlife program coordinator, will present "Hummingbirds - Myth, Magic, and Mystery" noon-2 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, at Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westefield Road, Humble. For additional information, call 281-443-8731 or visit www.hcp4.net/mercer.

Nacogdoches: SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 12, in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches. Former president of The Native Plant Society of Texas, Peter Loos, will present "Native Plants That Work for You."Loos has a degree in horticulture from SFA and is a resident of Chireno. He owns Ecovirons which specializes in hard to find native plants, plant growing services, biological and botanical services, native plant seeds, landscape design, wetland construction and maintenance services, and land management services. The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month at the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture's SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center. A rare plant raffle will be held after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves lecture series fund always are appreciated. Parking is available at the nearby Raguet Elementary School, 2428 Raguet St., with continual shuttle service to the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building. For more information, call 936-468-1832 or email grantdamon@sfasu.edu.  

San Antonio: Christine Arredondo, owner and manager of San Antonio Gourmet Olive Oils, will speak at the San Antonio Herb Society's meeting June 12. The meeting, running 6:30-8:30 p.m., will be held at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels, San Antonio. For additional information, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org.  

Seabrook: Judy Jones, part-owner of Enchanted Gardens, will present "Fairy Gardens and Terrariums" at 10 a.m., June 18, at Clear Lake Park Meeting Room, 5001 Nasa Parkway, Seabrook. For additional information, visit https://hcmga.tamu.edu/Public/pubp2.aspx.

Cleburne: Junior Master Gardener Wildlife Gardener Certification Summer Camp will be held Monday June 23 though Friday June 27, 9 a.m.- noon, and the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum, 101 Chisholm Trail Dr, Cleburne. Learn backyard habitat gardening basics by exploring, Birds, Amphibians/Snakes, Mammals/Bats & Insects/Monarchs. Classes will be made up of hands-on projects, class discussion & take home crafts. Friday the class will put everything they have learned about gardening for wildlife into practice by creating and planting a butterfly garden on site. Those who attend all 5 classes will receive JMG Wildlife Gardener Certification. Classes are geared for kids 7-11 and space is limited, If space is available, children under 7 may attend with an adult & those older than 11 but younger than 15 may attend with approval. Take all 5 classes and receive a JMG Wildlife Gardener Certification for $45.00 or take individual classes for $10.00 per class. For more information contact Pat Kriener, 817-793-4625 or wildwoodc@yahoo.com. 

Humble: Children entering the 4th and 5th grades can jump into the fascinating world of plants during summer camp at Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens. Participants may choose from two week-long sessions: Monday, June 23 through Friday, June 27 or Monday, July 21 through Friday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to noon each day. Registration is now open, but seating is limited! Call 281-443-8731 or visit Mercer to register and find out more. An $80 enrollment fee is due at the time of registration. Plant hunters will learn about the diverse plants of the world and the ecosystems in which they are found as they engage in a variety of outdoor activities to learn about the natural world. Discover the amazing abilities of plants that allow them to thrive in virtually every habitat on earth, including grasslands, wetlands, the tropics, temperate forests, and the human environment. Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens is located one mile north of FM 1960 at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble. For additional information, contact Mercer at 281-443-8731 or online at www.hcp4.net/mercer.

• Many, many practical and timely garden tips that are for Texas - not Maine or California!
• Organic, earth friendly tips to make your garden grow and prosper
• Lots of space to record your own activities for future reference
• Planting dates and tips for vegetables, flowers, herbs, fruit and lawns

The Vegetable Book

By Dr. Sam Cotner

Finally, back by popular demand and in its fourth printing, the most informative and comprehensive "how-to" book on vegetable gardening in Texas (also, suitable for most other areas of the South) written by the late, great Dr. Sam Cotner, former head of horticulture at Texas A&M University and lifelong gardener. This interesting read has over 370 pages of detailed information on every crop, from Asparagus to Watermelon including problem/solving sections for each vegetable. If you want to maximize your enjoyment and success growing vegetables in Texas, this book is a "must have," whether you are a beginner or a seasoned gardener. Price $34.02

By William D. Adams

The best thing for tomato enthusiasts since the tomato itself! Adams draws on more than thirty years of experience to provide a complete, step-by-step guide to success in the tomato patch. Learn everything from soil preparation, planting, feeding, caging and watering. Liberally sprinkled with the author's easy humor and illustrated with his own excellent photographs, this must-have book has everything you'll need to assure a bumper crop! 189 pages. Lots of color photographs! Price: $31.94

($15.82 if ordered separately)

Remit payment to:

TG Books * PO Box 9005 * Waco, TX 76714

or call Toll-Free 1-800-727-9020

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