We are barely halfway through Summer 2022, and the temperatures have been vicious. The record heat and extreme drought conditions in Central Texas are wreaking havoc on our summer gardens.
Water and heat stressed plants are more vulnerable to insect damage and disease. If your plants aren’t looking good and unproductive, you may want to pull them out to make room for a fall garden. In Central Texas, fall gardens are planted in late July through early August.
This planting window is another opportunity to plant another round of summer favorites like beans, corn, cucumbers, orka, peppers, tomatoes and squash. Beans and corn prefer to be directly sown in the ground. They don’t like to be transplanted and can be planted in early August right in your garden. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and squash don’t mind being transplanted or moved around.
As you are cleaning out your beds, be sure to add an inch or two of compost. Refreshing your beds with compost between growing seasons is very important. Summer crops tend to be very heavy feeders and deplete nutrients. Compost provides fresh nutrients to your soil. Compost also helps your soil retain moisture.
While your beds are inactive, you might consider improving the way you water your beds. Drip irrigation systems are customizable and make watering highly efficient. They are usually less expensive than traditional sprinkler systems, especially if you are handy and don’t mind installing a system yourself.
Drip irrigation delivers water directly to your plants with much less evaporation. You can set them up with timers and water for the perfect amount of time. They can be expensive initially and they do need regular maintenance since the tubes, heads and other mechanics clog and degrade in the elements.
Ollas are another option for your beds that requires even less effort than drip irrigation. Ollas are unglazed clay vessels traditionally used for cooking and storage but also for irrigation. The word olla is Latin for pot or jar.
Ollas have been used in the garden since ancient times. There is a Celtic god of agriculture who is always depicted holding a mallet and an olla. Native Americans also used ollas.
Ollas used for gardening are basically urns that don’t have handles. Garden ollas resemble oversized terracotta light bulbs with lids. Ollas are buried deeply with only the opening slightly above the soil line. Plants and seeds are placed around the olla and then they are filled with water. As the plants grow, the roots grow toward and around the olla.
Since ollas are not glazed or sealed, the water seeps slowly through soil moisture tension. When the soil is dry, the water is pulled out. When the soil is moist, the water stays in the olla, until it is needed. Plants are never overwatered or underwatered.
Ollas conserve water because there is less evaporation since they disperse water from the ground up. Thanks to the self-watering nature of the olla through soil moisture tension, you won’t need to water as often. Depending on weather conditions, watering time can be reduced up to half. If you normally water twice a week, you may only need to refill your olla once a week.
Ollas are all basically the same. They are made of clay and are unglazed. Lids reduce evaporation from the top, but also prevent excess debris and moisture loving critters like toads, slugs and mosquitos out of it.
Ollas aren’t commonly found at chain stores, but can be ordered online or custom made from a potter. You can also find instructions online to modify regular clay pots into a water saving olla.
With 25 years of backyard gardening experience, Julie is a plant and nature enthusiast. She lives in Taylor and hosts the “Plow & Hose Organic Gardening in Central Texas” podcast and radio show that airs on KBSR, Black Sparrow Radio every Saturday and Sunday at 9 am.
