How to keep them alive (and producing).

Care library

How to keep them alive (and producing).

Quick-reference care guides for the crops we plant most in Austin yards. Real watering schedules, real pruning advice, real pest fixes.

Tomatoes

Water: Deep soak twice a week once established. Mulch heavy to keep roots cool.
Sun: 6 to 8 hours direct sun. Afternoon shade in July and August.
Prune: Remove suckers below the first flower truss. Top plants at 5 feet to push ripening.
Pests: Hornworms (handpick at dusk), stinkbugs (neem spray), spider mites (blast with water).

Peppers

Water: Steady moisture, not soggy. Drip irrigation on a 3x weekly cycle.
Sun: Full sun, no shade needed even in summer.
Prune: Pinch the first flowers off transplants for two weeks to build the plant.
Pests: Aphids (ladybugs), pepper weevil (rotate crops, clean debris).

Basil

Water: Daily in summer if in containers, 3x weekly in beds. Wilts as a warning.
Sun: Full morning sun, light afternoon shade in peak summer.
Prune: Pinch above leaf pairs weekly. Never let it flower or leaves turn bitter.
Pests: Mostly pest-free. Watch for downy mildew, give airflow.

Fig trees

Water: Deep weekly soak first two years. Mature trees rarely need water.
Sun: Full sun, protect from hard freeze under 25°F for first two winters.
Prune: Late winter. Open the center, remove crossing branches. Don't over-prune.
Pests: Birds (netting at ripening), fig beetles (sticky traps).

Strawberries

Water: 1 inch per week, drip preferred. Mulch with straw to keep berries clean.
Sun: 6+ hours, morning sun is best.
Prune: Cut runners to focus energy on fruit. Renew beds every 3 years.
Pests: Pillbugs (raise beds), slugs (beer traps), birds (netting).

Citrus (satsuma, meyer lemon)

Water: Deep weekly soak. Yellow leaves usually mean too much, not too little.
Sun: Full sun, south-facing wall ideal for cold protection.
Prune: Minimal. Remove dead wood and water sprouts only.
Pests: Leafminers (cosmetic, ignore), scale (neem oil), citrus greening (Texas safe so far).

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