More to Plant: My Texas Spring Garden of Herbs, Flowers & Vegetables

Today, I received from Seed Savers Exchange my order of Herb Chives, English Lavender, and Salvia flower.

Planning My Texas Spring Garden: Herbs, Flowers & Vegetables

Spring gardening always fills me with optimism. Every seed packet holds the promise of fresh vegetables, colorful flowers, and a season full of surprises.

This week my order from Seed Savers Exchange arrived, and I couldn't wait to start planning where everything would go.

This year's additions include:

• Herb Chives
• English Lavender
• Salvia
• Sunflowers
• Organic Red Potatoes
• Radishes
• Green Beans

Why I Love Growing Herbs

Herbs are some of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow.

Chives return year after year with very little attention and are wonderful sprinkled over baked potatoes, eggs, soups, and salads.

English Lavender not only produces beautiful purple blooms but also attracts bees and butterflies while adding wonderful fragrance to the garden.

Salvia is another favorite because hummingbirds absolutely love its colorful flowers.

Sunflowers are ready to transplant, but I can't decide where to put them yet.

Watching the Garden Wake Up

My organic red potatoes had already begun sprouting, and the mystery green beans that unexpectedly appeared in one of my marigold pots continued to grow.

Gardening always has a few surprises.

The organic radishes had already started blooming and going to seed, reminding me how quickly cool-season vegetables react once Texas temperatures begin climbing. Rather than viewing that as a disappointment, I looked forward to saving the seeds for another growing season.

The organic radishes are blooming and going to seed. I'm wondering if the weather is getting too warm for them now.

The organic red potatoes I had picked up at Whole Foods are sprouting beautifully.

These are the mystery green beans that had sprouted in my pot of Marigolds.

Spring Weather in Texas

If there's one thing every Texas gardener learns, it's to never trust the calendar.

One week we're running the air conditioner with temperatures near 80°F.

The next week we're digging jackets back out as nighttime temperatures drop into the 40s.

Spring gardening in Texas is always a balancing act between taking advantage of warm weather and protecting tender plants from one last surprise cold front.

Like most gardeners across the state, I found myself hoping for rain—but not another freeze.

Every spring teaches a little patience, and every season brings another opportunity to learn.

What to Plant in Early Spring in Central Texas

• Chives
• Lavender
• Salvia
• Potatoes
• Radishes
• Lettuce
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Beets
• Sunflowers

We've been enjoying 80 degree weather all week, but now our temps are dropping. Our lows will be dropping to the mid 40's with a high of 50's and 60's. This is the type of weather that drives me crazy. We've been running our air conditioner all week, and now it's getting cold again.

We have a 70% chance of rain tomorrow and Thursday. 209 out of Texas' 254 counties are under a burn ban. HOPING for rain, but not hoping for a freeze!