How to Grow Vegetables in Austin

The central Texas city of Austin is located in zone 8b of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Plant Hardiness Zone Map. This means the environment, climate and soil conditions of the area are ideal for growing vegetables that tolerate temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 degrees F. Knowing how to grow vegetables in Austin allows you the ability to present organic and nutritious foods on your table. This also saves money on expensive produce in grocery stores or organic farmers' markets.

Step 1

Select a desirable garden plot location in your yard. For an ordinary family garden a plot measuring about 10 by 10 feet is adequate. Choose a spot that receives full sunlight in some areas and shading in others. This allows you the ability to grow a wider range of vegetables.

Step 2

Turn the ground in the entire plot of land you have chosen. Dig down about 4 inches deep with a shovel or hand tiller. This turns the ground to prepare it for gardening.

Step 3

Spread about 2 inches of garden soil over the freshly turned earth. Depending on the size of land you are using for your garden, the amount of potting soil used varies. Start with a 40 lb. bag of garden soil for a 10- by 10-foot plot.

Step 4

Layer an inch of peat moss over the garden soil. 20 lbs of peat moss covers a 10-by-10 plot. Peat moss helps your garden soil retain adequate moisture and nutrients for your growing vegetables. It also serves as a useful and soft mulch.

Step 5

Spread about 3 inches of kitchen compost over the garden earth. Kitchen compost consists of egg shells, botanical cuttings, coffee grounds and other waste. Don't include meat or bread items, however, as these attract pests and may disrupt your plants' growth.

Step 6

Till the garden area once more to mix the soil, peat moss, compost and ground soil together thoroughly. This provides an excellent foundation for growing your vegetable garden.

Step 7

Sow the seeds of sun loving vegetables at the sunniest part of your garden plot. These vegetables include summer squash, tomatoes and corn. Aside from the ones mentioned, cucumbers and potato plants also thrive in sunny Austin gardens. Different seeds must be sown in different ways. For example, corn seed can be sown at 1/4 in. beneath the soil whereas tomato seeds can be sown just beneath the surface or even scattered.

Step 8

Sow broccoli, turnip and carrot seeds in the shaded parts of your garden plot. These vegetables thrive throughout the year in shaded Austin gardens, and can also withstand the cold growing season in the area.

Step 9

Spray about an inch of water over the entire surface of the freshly sowed garden. Do this once every day during the hot season in Austin, or every other day during the early fall. The spring season in Austin brings a lot of rain, so watering should be reduced to once a week.

Step 10

Fertilize your vegetable garden with earthworms. Earthworm casings provide nourishment to garden soil as effectively as manure without the smell or heat. To do this, simply buy a few cartons of red wrigglers from your local bait or garden shop and spread them out throughout the established parts of your garden soil. The worms will munch up the soil and kitchen compost, digesting it and turning it into nutritious, fertilized soil.

Step 11

Spray an organic pesticide over your garden vegetables to prevent them from being eaten by insects. Dyatamaceas earth is a natural material that can be used safely without harming pets or humans. You can also use a commercial organic spray that doesn't contain harmful ingredients. Using these pesticides keeps your vegetables safe for consumption and bug free.

Step 12

Follow the progress of your crops, and harvest them as needed. For instance, plants like squash produce vegetables from their blossoms throughout the growing season. Simply remove vegetables as they appear.