FEBRUARY 201 4 SUNRAYS | 87
ONLINE:
SCTXCA.ORG
S
pring in Central Texas is one of
the most beautiful times of year—
wildflowers blooming, mild temper-
atures, and, if we’re lucky, a bit of rain.
It’s also a great time to get outside and
connect with nature, maybe even try a
hand at growing a green thumb. Here in
Sun City Texas, one of our major ameni-
ties is our community garden, the Sun
City Organic Gardens, managed and
maintained by the Horticulture Club.
The Sun City Organic Gardens feature
a vineyard, a nursery, an herb garden,
an orchard, as well as 265 raised garden
beds available for rent―not to mention
a computer-operated 24-foot-by-36-foot
greenhouse, which was completed in
early 2013. The Gardens also showcase
native plants that would thrive in any
Sun City Texas yard. Located at 141 Sun
City Blvd. right next to the Del Webb
Softball Field and the Sun City Texas
Dog Park, this community garden is a
licensed retail nursery in the State of
Texas with access to several local whole-
sale nurseries.
However, for many residents, this is also
a great place to grow their own food.
From tomatoes to lettuces, and broccoli
to asparagus—you can grow anything
as long as it’s planted in the right sea-
son and carefully maintained. Rented
garden beds measure 5 ft. x 24 ft., and
have water provided by an onsite deep
water well. Extra protection is provided
by a fence surrounding the garden that
keeps out deer. The Horticulture Club
offers a wonderful planting guide on its
website, which is briefly outlined with
this article.
To learn more about vegetable and fruit
gardening in Sun City Texas, the Horti-
culture Club is hosting an Open House
on Saturday, February 22 from 2-4 p.m.
at the Sun City Organic Gardens, with
a rain date of Sunday, February 23. All
residents are welcome for a tour of the
garden and information on how to rent
a bed, become a member, gardening tips
and more.
The club will also host its biannual Plant
Sale on Saturday, March 22 from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at the Gardens, where visitors
can purchase shrubs, perennials and
annuals, vegetables and herbs, as well
as compost, mulch and compost tea.
If you can’t make it to the Open House
or Plant Sale, come out any Thursday or
Saturday from 9-11 a.m. Members are
available for information, plant donation
or plant sales. For more information on
the Horticulture Club and its events, visit
> Site Index > Horticul-
ture Club, or see page 114.
Sun City organic Gardens
Open House
Saturday, February 22,
2-4 p.m.,
141 Sun City Blvd.
Rain Date:
Sunday, February 23
Take a tour of this great com-
munity amenity and learn more
about honing your own green
thumb!
Planting Guide
Here’s a general look at what
to plant and when in Sun City
Texas. For more information
about seeding, planting, trans-
planting and harvesting, visit
the Horticulture Club website
at
> Site Index
> Horticulture Club. On the left-
hand side, click on “Gardening
Info,” then click on “Sun City
Gardening Schedule.”
January: Cauliflower & Leeks
February: Artichokes, Aspar-
agus, Collards, Cool Season
Greens, Lettuce, Peas, Pota-
toes, Radishes
March: Beans, Beets, Carrots,
Chard, Corn, Cucumber, Warm
Season Greens, Mustard, Pep-
pers, Pumpkins, Spinach, Sum-
mer Squash, Tomatoes
April: Cantaloupe, Peas, Sweet
Potatoes, Watermelons
May: Eggplant, Okra
August: Onions, Peppers, Shal-
lots, Winter Squash, Tomatoes
September: Beans, Beets,
Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts,
Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower,
Chard, Collards, Cool Season
Greens, Kale, Lettuce, Mustard,
Peas, Spinach, Turnips
October: Garlic, Radishes
December: Onion bulbs
Fresh From the Garden
By Maggi Jones
