Re: When do I start?
You dont' have to use seeds. In fact, until you get better at growing, it's best to start with seedlings or plants. I am trying seeds for the first time this year, but only for the heirloom varieties i want to try. It can take weeks to get seeds to the point the seedlings can be planted and they require alot of time and attention (in my opinion). FYI - heirloom plants you can keep the seeds and grow from them. Others you can't. They are specially grown NOT to reproduce. So try to get heirloom varieties when you buy.
Normal planting time for the Gulf Coast area starts at the end of Feb, beginning of March - depending on how warm it is. You don't want to wait too long or you won'thave any veggies until it gets too hot and then the plants don't want to grow because of the heat. I have a GREAT book (I think I got it at Amazon) called the "Houston Garden Book : A Complete Guid to Gardening in Houston and the Gulf Coast". I really recommend it! You are pretty much in the same planting zone I am (Zone 9a), so this book would work great for you! It's very hard to find gardening books for specific areas and they are such a big help - especially when you are still new to it, like I am. I have only grown the easy stuff, so far - peppers, tomatoes and cukes. Thsi year I want to expand.
