“Texas Superstar Vegetables”
By Sherri McShane, Bexar County Master Gardener
September 2023
We had a great turnout for the August “Lunch and Learn with a Master Gardener – Texas Superstar Vegetables” presented by Nancy Mills. Nancy began by explaining that all of her information was university sponsored, unbiased, research based and locally relevant – the standard required by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. She also briefly explained the role of a Bexar County Master Gardener (“BCMG”) and encouraged anyone interested in becoming a BCMG to consider joining next year’s training program.
At the start of her presentation, she explained that the plants included in the Texas Superstar program are tested and selected for “superstar performance” in the Texas climate. These plants along with utilizing Earth-Kind® landscaping helps to provide maximum garden enjoyment while preserving and protecting the environment. Some of the key Earth-Kind principles are:
- Planning the space with placement, soil needs, spacing, water needs, sunlight needs, and maintenance requirements in mind
- Planting by choosing appropriate plants, timing the planting, and researching tips from reliable sources for best success
- On-going maintenance: watering, weeding, pest management, watching for disease, and frequent harvesting
Nancy shared examples of a number of Texas Superstar herbs and vegetables that are suitable for fall planting. She highlighted several varieties of tomatoes, including Celebrity, ‘Tycoon,’ ‘Dwarf Cherry Surprise’ (‘BHN 968’), and Ruby Crush. ‘Green Magic’ Broccoli was the selection for broccoli. She also mentioned Texas Super Sweet Onions, ‘Balsamic Blooms’ Basil, and Barbeque Skewers Rosemary. She even shared a few peppers in the program, highlighting Basket of Fire, ‘NuMex Twilight’ Ornamental, and ‘Purple Flash’ Ornamental. She shared that additional information about sun, water, and space requirements can be found on the Texas Superstar website.
Want to learn about unusual vegetables? Consider attending the September “Lunch and Learn with a Bexar County Master Gardener – Unusual Vegetables” on Friday, September 15 from noon – 1pm.