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Back in the 1960s when I was in college and seminary, I worked part time for 2 different grocery stores. I do not remember seeing Papayas in the produce sections. … (read article)
Here in the Coastal Bend of Texas, it is hot, humid, and dry in mid-August. I thought the only vegetables growing this time of year would be the sweet potatoes … (read article)
Growing up, my parents only raised and ate green bell peppers. They tasted fine in ground up bologna, boiled egg, green peppers and mayonnaise on toasted bread. They were okay … (read article)
When I first started gardening here in the sugar sand (inland coastal dunes) of Aransas County, Texas back in 2008, I tried Sweet Potato slips. Even with drip irrigation, the … (read article)
During the first week of April this year before the “Stay At Home” order, we traveled from Rockport to Poteet, Texas about 30 miles from San Antonio. We went to … (read article)
Today I picked a peck of Pinkeye Purple Hull Peas and spent three hours shelling them to get about a gallon of peas. A peck is ¼ of a bushel. … (read article)
I have raised corn for the past 13 years here at the Preserve in Aransas County. Every year there has been a challenge to raise the corn to maturity, so … (read article)
I didn’t realize how many definitions of ‘tips’ there are until I looked it up on the internet. I am using it here as a ‘helpful hint’. The last blog … (read article)
In the 1970s, I had a 7’x8’ former sand box as my garden in my small back yard on the Franklin Mountain foothills in El Paso, Texas. Organic compost was … (read article)
In the early 1960s, my Grandmother Green moved into town from the farm in Southeast Missouri. She had a 20’x30’ garden area with sandy soil containing very little organic matter. … (read article)
January has provided a wonderful variety of vegetables from the garden and fruits from citrus trees for each of our three daily meals. Tonight, we had turnip and mustard greens … (read article)
Yes, it helps to be in the Coastal Bend of Texas, 300 yards from Copano Bay which moderates temperatures, and to have 12 years of experience in the sugar sand … (read article)
Succulents have become the cool kid in the garden during the last couple of years. Honestly, I thought the trend would wane, but the popularity of succulents is only growing … (read article)
Hello Gardeners and fellow Green Thumbs! As Spray-N-Grow’s newest blogger, allow me to introduce myself. I am the daughter of Melanie and the grand-daughter of Spray-N-Grow’s founders, Bill and the … (read article)
On a recent trip to New York City to visit my daughter, I literally walked miles and miles throughout Manhattan. Of course, I noticed all the lovely plants along my … (read article)
Here on the Coastal Bend of Texas, the summer temperatures run in the 90s with the humidity usually over 80%, especially with the high water table we have had for … (read article)
We all have bought a plant with the tag that indicates it needs 6+ hours of full sun. Unfortunately, plant information tags do not consider the vast differences in the … (read article)
WOW! What a wonderful spring garden in 2019. The four squash plants produced over 30 squash which we have eaten various ways as well as given away. I have gathered … (read article)
As you may know from my prior blogs, I grow all my plants in containers and elevated raised beds. The flowers live on the upstairs deck. The vegetables and herbs … (read article)
All together I planted 21 pepper plants with 15 of them grown from seed under the grow light. Eight of the 21 are planted in row 3, one is in … (read article)
Yes, I have complained about too much rain this past fall and present spring, which has raised the water table to where it is visible in the low areas next … (read article)
On Sunday, April 7, 2019, we had a driving rain here in the Rockport, TX area that left us with 1.3” of rain which raised the water table above ground … (read article)
Here it is the middle of March, 2019, and we are still enjoying the Temple and Blood oranges left in the refrigerator. The cold makes them even more delicious. Just … (read article)
It is important to get an early start on spring gardening here along the South Texas Coast because the hot humid weather often descends in May. I started under the … (read article)
All things considered, gardening can be thought of as the art and science of environmental engineering. When we grow plants we take great care to control the soil, water quality, amount of … (read article)
Continuing our journey through the Nightshade family, this week we will be discussing a perennial favorite: potatoes. Like the chillis described in my earlier entry potatoes are indigenous to the … (read article)
Yesterday, February 25th, I picked 15 ripe tomatoes which have been producing since the beginning of this year. I also picked the last gallon of English Peas of the 14 … (read article)
If you’ve been paying attention to ecological news over the past decade then you have likely heard of the pressing issue of pollinator decline, particularly the decline in honeybee populations … (read article)
With winter drawing to a close and spring rapidly approaching the time has come to select our plants for the season. If you are gardening just about anywhere there is … (read article)
I have been starting seeds under a grow light since 1986. I do this to get a larger variety of vegetable plants than are available at a nursery or store. … (read article)
One of the principles I learned from the life and teachings of Jesus was to give a gift (whatever it is) with no strings attached and without expecting anything (even … (read article)
At Spray-N-Grow, we divide the gardening season into three parts: dream, plant and love. I am starting the dream phase. As gardeners, we often spend as much time dreaming about … (read article)
As I design my garden each fall and spring, I start with rotating my vegetables on a dirt canvas that needs to be recharged with compost and organic fertilizers. These … (read article)
In August a year ago, Hurricane Harvey blew between 70-90 Grapefruit off my two Rio Red trees. It also blew off fruit on all my other citrus trees. The Persian … (read article)
As autumn sets in and the beginning of winter draws near we are faced with the question: what to plant in the winter garden? Of course there is the standard … (read article)
Here along the Texas coast we have had over 20” of rain from September 1 to October 25, 2018. September was hot and humid until a cold front came in … (read article)
Nearly a century ago, Supreme Court jurist, Oliver Wendell Homes wrote, “I would not give a fig for the simplification on this side of complexity, but I would give anything … (read article)
I just returned from a cruise of the Baltic Sea. My daughter is a musical theater actress and was performing on a cruise ship touring the sea. The trip was … (read article)
Hurricane Florence has dumped over 20” of rain over most of the Carolinas. The sea surge plus major flooding over much of those states will make gardening there this next year … (read article)
The July and August weather was very hot, humid and dry on the Texas Coast this year. As soon as I stepped outside, my clothes would become soaked in sweat, … (read article)
In the spring of 2016, my wife and I took a trip to Ft. Myers, Florida to visit with Harvette’s sister and her husband. They had a new RV which … (read article)
Murray Bowen, the founder of Bowen’s Family Systems wrote in the 1980s that we were entering a period of Societal Regression brought about by high anxiety over limited resources, over-population … (read article)
Mix Spray-N-Grow, Bill’s Perfect Fertilizer & Coco-Wet together for the ultimate in plant nutrition! Mixing a Quart: 1 qt. lukewarm water (80º – 100º F) 1/8 tsp. Coco-Wet 2 tsp. … (read article)
In the 1940s, I grew up eating yellow field corn and garden sweet corn. The field corn was picked when it was most tender, boiled, and usually cut off with … (read article)
My Mom said that her whole life, but we always had some kind of meat with our fried okra. My wife says she has fried enough okra to fill our … (read article)
My Dad’s favorite avocations were gardening and bird watching. As I was growing up in Missouri and Michigan, I do not remember Dad having any problems with birds in his … (read article)
The Leaf Footed Bug is from the stink bug family of insects. These include Shield Bugs, Harlequin Bugs, Green Squash Bugs and other squash bugs. They all emit an obnoxious … (read article)
Gardeners always ask me, “what products do you use in your garden?” We try to test every product we sell in a staff member’s garden. Of the more than 80 … (read article)
I am in love with my bed of vincas. They are planted in an elevated bed on my upstairs deck. I can see them from my bedroom and living room … (read article)
Soil in pots, containers, and raised or elevated beds is more quickly depleted of nutrients than garden soil. Both are depleted by plants using nutrients but potting soil does not … (read article)
It is May here in Rockport, Texas. After having significant rain in January through March, we are now in drought conditions. The temperature during the last half of this month … (read article)
I retired and moved to Rockport, Texas in 2007 so we could be closer to our son and his family in Houston, as well as to fish and bird watch. … (read article)
The answer to the above question is “No!” and “yes”. The reality is I probably don’t have a choice. In the late 50’s, my grandmother Green moved off the family … (read article)
Back in the 1980s in El Paso Texas when I started ordering seeds from Garden Catalogues, I would usually get the catalogues in January and February. Now here in Rockport, … (read article)
On or about April 18th 2018, my tomato plants were attacked by an army of Tomato Horn Worms. Over the next 3 days I found over 40 horn worms from … (read article)
How a person treats their pet when they are alone says a lot about a person’s character as being kind and caring or mean and coercive. Sweet Pea, our 9 … (read article)
It’s that time again! The days are getting longer, seedlings are sprouting in trays and garden boxes, and my pomegranate, fig, and pear trees are starting to dress themselves in … (read article)
Monasteries were formed before and during the Middle Ages to help a community of Monks, laymen, and sometimes Sisters and lay women to survive and find spiritual nurture of their … (read article)
This year I spent more time reading about plants and not just shopping for them. As I shared in my most recent blog, I purchased my tomato, pepper and herb … (read article)
On February 4th, 2018, my Aunt Clarence celebrated her 100th birthday in Roswell, NM. She outlived my mother, and her two brothers who were all younger than her. She and … (read article)
I always have loved shopping for plants. It’s usually an all day trip to various stores and garden centers in Rockport and neighboring towns. Almost like a scavenger hunt, searching … (read article)
2018 has been a good year for root crops. I planted turnips, carrots, and radishes around the 1st of November, 2017. As usual I planted the Purple Top turnip seeds … (read article)
In El Paso, Texas I had a 5 foot tall rock wall around all of my backyard. In the desert there were no deer or other varmints. However, the rock … (read article)
On August 24, 2017, Hurricane Harvey made land fall directly over Rockport, Texas. My wife and I left early in the afternoon of the 24th and stayed with friends in … (read article)
I have always felt that good things come from situations in my life that are not good. Like a Hurricane. Category 4. Direct hit on my town, my home, the … (read article)
Spray-N-Grow is located in the beautiful small town of Rockport, Texas. Rockport took a direct hit from Hurricane Harvey early Saturday morning, August 26. The Spray-N-Grow offices and warehouse were … (read article)
If you live in an area affected by one of the recent hurricanes you have likely noticed some new arrivals in your lawn and garden. Strong weather events such as hurricanes and … (read article)
A friend of mine recently got me thinking about fruit trees. Robin and I are next door neighbors with adjoining backyards and a mutual interest in growing food; we quickly … (read article)
It has been very hot, dry, and humid here in Rockport, Texas, this summer. My garden friends and I have discussed how much in minutes and how often to water … (read article)
My Grandpa Green, a farmer, only had one arm and hand which he could use. My Dad was born in 1916. By the time he was 10, he and his … (read article)
It is late July and the only vegetable growing in my garden is about 25 feet of okra. The other 6 ½ rows are bare except for a few weeds. … (read article)
Off the west coast of Scotland, the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides, lies an island whose economy relies almost entirely on the availability of a single crop. Barley is the … (read article)
After 35 years of organic gardening and 10 years of battling root knot nematodes in the sugar sand of the Texas coast, I have had a major discovery and success … (read article)
It’s so hot in Rockport, Texas that both the people and the plants are wilting. Because my plants are all in containers, watering is always a daily task. Now, it’s … (read article)
The fourth of July always reminds me of my grandfather, Bill Stewart. He was a farmer in Marissa, Illinois. He raised a few cows and grew soybeans and corn. The … (read article)
Here it is the middle of June and what do I have growing in my garden here on the Texas coast? We are having 10 hours of sunlight with the … (read article)
Hello friends! I want to apologize for my long absence. I have recently been overseas with extremely limited access to electricity and the Internet. It was a wonderful trip and … (read article)
I grew up on a farm in SE Missouri in the 1940s. Even when Dad was still farming with horses and mules, he planted on raised rows about 6 inches … (read article)
My spring vegetable garden was doing very nicely. The tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, and cucumbers, all planted in containers, were growing taller each day. The plants were green, pretty, and … (read article)
My mentor in psychology is Viktor Frankl, the German prison camp survivor, who wrote, MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING. He describes three kinds of values that give life meaning. The creative … (read article)
I grew up eating molasses mixed with butter on toast or biscuits. My grandmother made “Egg Butter” by mixing molasses, egg, cinnamon, and butter in a skillet, cooking it until … (read article)
By now, I’m sure you all have realized that I am a huge fan of growing food in whatever space is available. As the saying goes, #growfoodnotlawns. But if you … (read article)
Life is made up of linear thinking where decisions are either this way or that way, and circular both/and thinking where the cause is the effect and the effect is … (read article)
Since moving to Rockport, Texas to join Spray-N-Grow full time, I have gardened at three different homes. The first two were traditional homes with massive live oak trees in the … (read article)
Developing mastery skills with hand tools is important whether it is carpentry, mechanics, plumbing and/or gardening. These skills provided me with a sense of usefulness, competence, independence, and affirmation of … (read article)
Something I have always loved about gardening is the cultivation of a unique garden style. The potential combinations of individual elements are infinite, and none of them is inherently wrong. … (read article)
I love our Elevated Garden Planters and have two on my patio. The 22” tall bed has three peppers, two oregano plants and marigolds (to discourage bugs from eating my … (read article)
Organic Gardening is not only something I have been doing for the past 32 years, it is part of my Identity. Organic Gardening provides a significant perspective to my meaning … (read article)
During the 33 years that I have been an Organic Gardener, the cost of obtaining various organic fertilizers has increased. The price of chemical fertilizers has also increased. Using organic … (read article)
I planted my fall tomatoes in early November. It was very, very late to plant them but the fall was brutally hot, especially in October. I added some Greek and … (read article)
I planted my tomato seeds under the grow light the week after Christmas here in Rockport, Texas. I planted the plants in the garden during the first week in February … (read article)
Welcome to my gardening Blog. I am Melanie Lyon, Bill’s oldest daughter. There isn’t a time in my life that I don’t remember gardening with someone in my family. Of … (read article)
Spring is in the air! I know that winter hasn’t let up for everyone just yet, but here in Central Texas, the trees are budding out, the wildflowers are popping … (read article)
I am a 75 year old retired Pastoral Counselor. My avocation for the past 33 years has been ‘organic gardening’. However, I was introduced to organic gardening at age 6. … (read article)
Hello, my gardening friends! My name is Allyson. I am the second-youngest granddaughter of Mr. Bill, Spray-N-Grow’s own creative, caring, and, if I may say, rather clever founder. I am … (read article)
Black Spot is a fungal disease that attacks roses in many parts of the United States, targeting young leaves and newer canes. Here are some tips to limit this problem … (read article)
Cooperative Extension, with it’s helpful group of regional garden experts associated with universities across the county, believes that 80% of plant problems can be traced back to soil that “limits … (read article)
Perhaps your mother was a great gardener or maybe she just had success with that one gorgeous rose along the back fence. Either way the plant was amazing. Healthy, vigorous, … (read article)
Aphids are one of the most common destructive insects around. Safe to say, most gardeners have crossed paths with these little troublesome critters at one time or another. Aphids are small, … (read article)
We always say “It’s Like Vitamins for Your Plants!” So what does that really mean? Are you curious what’s in Spray-N-Grow Micronutrient Complex that makes it so effective? Curiosity is … (read article)
For most of us, thoughts about this year’s garden leapfrog to “What exciting new varieties will I grow?” Wait, wait! Close your eyes. Think about the best gardener you know. The … (read article)
Ever feel guilty when you cut flowers in your garden, concerned that you’re destroying nature’s beauty or leaving gaps in your flowerbeds? Then consider planting a cutting garden designed to … (read article)
Simple Composting Concepts and Considerations Seasoned gardeners often refer to compost as “black gold” because the value of good quality compost is huge. Wherever you live, compost can improve your … (read article)
The most common method of providing nutrients to plants is through the roots. This is done by placing nutrients in the soil at the base of the plant or through … (read article)
Grass needs good nutrition for proper growth, to be green and healthy. Grass requires three macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Each of these nutrients plays an important role in plant … (read article)
Cloning Plants Is Easy, Economical and Preserves Horticultural History Our friend owns an historic home, a lovely place that’s over 100 years old. The landscape is well established and the … (read article)
Holes in your plants’ foliage? Leaves that were full and healthy yesterday, and are gone now? Yes, this could be the work of snails or slugs (shell-less snails), those always … (read article)
Snakes give most people the creeps. It’s a fact. Fear of snakes tops the “fears” list in the U.S. and is far more wide spread than other common phobias such … (read article)
The very things that make squirrels entertaining – their high energy levels, persistence and engaging acrobatics – are the same ones that can sometimes become so annoying. This is especially … (read article)
Hop, munch. Hop, munch, munch. Good heavens, they’re everywhere! Funny how your yard tends to have no rabbits and then seemingly overnight there are two, three, four or more. Okay, … (read article)
They’re big. They’re hungry. And they can eat an amazing volume in a few hours. And to compound the potential landscape damage, deer usually travel in groups, from two to … (read article)
For all wild animals, staying safe is life’s number one priority. Should you become lunch nothing else matters. Many natural animal repellents work because of this basic survival instinct. When in … (read article)
The phone calls come in every year and they break our hearts . . . An eager gardener – novice or seasoned – has accidentally used a sprayer, one that … (read article)
Many garden products come in a liquid form that is sprayed directly on plant leaves and stems. Before you buy a garden sprayer, consider your own individual needs and anticipated … (read article)
Howard Garrett is one of Spray-N-Grow’s favorite gardening authorities because of his common sense approach to natural gardening. Garrett is a nationally syndicated radio talk show host with a gardening program called … (read article)
Q: What has four legs, chews up your garden, then tries to act all cute and furry? A: Deer and rabbits and other furry, not so helpful animals. That’s right, Bambi … (read article)
Say “fungus” when talking about gardening and many people will give you a puzzled look. However, use other, often more familiar terms, and eyes light up. Fungi include the following array … (read article)
Over the past few years I’ve become more convinced than ever that our food supply is contaminated by too many hormones, fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides. A three day, “Sustainable Tree … (read article)
There’s a select group of gardeners who have a deep seated desire to grow big vegetables, fruits and flowers. Okay, maybe “big” isn’t the right word. Giant. Monster-size. A number of award winning … (read article)
Ever notice how when people see a beautiful garden they want to stop, breathe in the fragrance, admire the vivid colors and linger a while? You can make the beauty … (read article)
Checklists can be so helpful, allowing one to keep track without having to recall seemingly endless details. Here’s our list of basics to review now and then to help your garden … (read article)
If you clicked on this article, you already know that gardening is fun and rewarding. Share the experience with your family! In addition to being enjoyable and productive, gardening is … (read article)
Something’s going on and your plants don’t look happy. Here are some clues to help determine if damaging insects are at work in your garden. Signs Your Plants May Be … (read article)
Scientists estimate that 97% of the world’s insects are either beneficial or harmless. Does is seem as though your garden attracts only the remaining 3%, the ones that are destructive? … (read article)
By the time summer arrives, your plants are already settled in the ground, happily growing. So gardeners often think “That’s it. I’ll have to wait until next spring to help beef … (read article)
When your plant’s roots fill its container and begin growing out the bottom – it’s time to repot and provide more growing space. If you’re wondering what size the new … (read article)
We get lots of phone calls from customers asking about fertilizers. Here are a trio that surface again and again, identified as Fact or Fiction. Fiction – Orchids and African … (read article)
Many gardeners who buy Spray-N-Grow for the first time think that it’s a fertilizer. Spray-N-Grow is not a fertilizer. Spray-N-Grow is a micronutrient complex. It contains the minor elements or micronutrients required by plants … (read article)
Strong, healthy plants are less susceptible to disease. To keep your plants healthy, take care of the basics first; this will make everything easier. You know, “An ounce of prevention. … (read article)
If you were trapped with insufficient food and water, could you be your best? How about if there was little light, dusty stale air and not enough room to grow? … (read article)
Bill’s Perfect Fertilizer is an all-natural, fish based fertilizer, formulated by Spray-N-Grow founder Bill Muskopf and horticulturalist Jack Little, for use with Spray-N-Grow Micronutrients. Bill and Jack formulated Bill’s Perfect Fertilizer so that home gardeners would … (read article)
Just like us, plants need nutrients. Give them good nutrition – fertilizer (plant food) and supplemental Spray-N-Grow (plant vitamins) – and they’ll grow and thrive. It’s estimated that less than 50% of … (read article)
Improper watering is the top cause of plant stress and the number killer of houseplants. Water needs vary dramatically depending on the type of plant, soil and location. Weather factors … (read article)
Wetting agents, surfactants, spreader stickers – what are they? Gardeners who use liquid products are often troubled when their sprays rolls right off the leaf surfaces. Waxy-leafed plants are especially … (read article)
During the summer months, we see a significant bump in the number of gardeners who call with concerns that their plants have fungus. Our problem solving starts with three questions: What time of day … (read article)
Saving water and enjoying the environmental benefits of low water plants is easy. This thoughtful approach is built on some basic, commonsense principles. Planning Talk to the professionals at … (read article)
Does your cat or dog spends time outdoors? Then flea and tick control may be part of your usual summer routine. Perhaps an unwelcome part. Fleas and ticks are parasites … (read article)
If you’ve gardened for a while odds are good you’ve heard of neem oil. Turns out it’s one of a handful of products that belongs in every successful gardener’s tool … (read article)
Live in an area with a short growing season? Want to stretch your outdoor gardening for as many weeks as possible? A number of options exist for extending the gardening … (read article)
Bill's daughter Melanie, an empty nester, now grows her vegetables and flowers in containers.
Bill’s granddaughter, Connor, a city girl that loves plants.
Herman, a good friend of Bill's, is experienced gardener with a passion for plants.