I let everyone down. Last year I planted 2 4by4’s in the hope I would be able to grow veggies. I planted tomatoes, cukes, beans, zucchini and beets. From 5 bush bean plants I got a total of 12 beans. I grew 2 beets. At some point I threw potato peels in the compost heap which explains why the only crop I grew was potatoes.
Tilled the soil for this years crop. Had grubs the size of my thumb. Killed them. More compost, some perlite and I was ready to go again this year. Zucchini plants were huge. No zucchini. 1 tomato plant outright died in the pot and the one I planted grew 1 green tomato. Again the beans were sparse. Cukes are in now and big plants, no cukes. Lettuce never bothered coming up.
So, my question is, being in San Antonio, what should I be preparing for the fall season and if I rip everything up now can I start growing anything?
Sounds to me like you have a nitrogen rich soil. Lots of growth and no fruit. Perhaps you could add some bonemeal to the soil. You may still be able to get some produce off your existing plants if you try applying a fertilizer with a higher phosphate ratio. The fastest way to have it take effect is to foliar feed, directly spraying the solution onto the foliage first thing in the morning. You can use a binder such as yucca root extract (Thermax) or I’ve heard egg whites work well too.
You are far south of me and I don’t know if you even get frost. Frost resistant veggies are beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, collards, garlic, kale, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsley, spinach and turnips. These make for a good fall garden. The garlic will winter over and be good next summer.
***So, my question is, being in San Antonio, what should I be preparing for the fall season and if I rip everything up now can I start growing anything?***
You sound like my daughter who is also in SA. Her garden was filled with Mel’s Mix. she has drip irrigation, and her garden was a total bust. Even her malabar spinach is failing.
All the nurseries have peppers, tomatoes, squash and cucumbers right now. Go for it. Here’s a Garden Calendar with Planting Dates for SA
http://fanicknursery.com/Downloads/2014/Calendar_2014.pdf