Field Notes / What I'd Plant This Week on the Gulf Coast (Late July)
Field Notes

Quick Compost Win for Texas Gardeners

Late July feels like the garden's dead season, but it's secretly the most important planting week of the year — fall starts NOW. Here's my actual list.

J By Jordan Polasek · August 1, 2026 · El Campo, TX

By Jordan Polasek · August 1, 2026

As we head into the hottest part of the summer, our Texas Gulf-Coast gardens can use all the help they can get. One simple yet powerful way to support your plants is through composting. By dedicating just 10 minutes a day to composting, you can create a nutrient-rich soil amendment that will pay off all year round.

Get Started with a Compost Corner

Designate a small area of your yard as a compost corner. This can be as simple as a 3x3 foot patch of ground or a few large bins. Choose a spot that's easy to access and out of direct sunlight. Every day, take 10 minutes to add kitchen scraps, yard trimmings, or other organic materials to your compost corner.

Turn Your Compost in 10 Minutes a Day

To keep your compost pile active and speed up the decomposition process, take a few minutes each day to turn the materials. You can use a pitchfork or shovel to gently mix everything together. This helps introduce oxygen, which is essential for breaking down the organic matter.

By investing just 10 minutes a day in composting, you'll be amazed at the difference it can make in your garden's health and productivity. Happy composting, Texas gardeners!

Happy growing, y’all. Got a Texas gardening or homesteading question? Come back tomorrow — there’s a fresh post here every day.


“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who gives the growth.” — 1 Corinthians 3:7

Around our little corner of the internet: BVTech.org · JordanPolasek.com · In Remembrance of Autumn 🐾

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