Summer has officially allow go for the twelvemonth , and autumn has take on the seasonal reins . Although it ’s still humid and in the LXXX here in Kentucky , I ’m already thinking about bonfires , thick sweaters and sassy apple cider .
I ’m also turning my attention to the garden , which , despite offering up ruddy tomatoes and right peppers by the basket , will presently face dramatic change as snappy nights and out-and-out cold conditions descend . gardener are consider how to go the grow time of year for insensate - intrepid plants and get things ready for next spring ’s starts .
Plant Cool-Weather Crops
Your summer garden probably wait a little ragged , and you fear the naked undercoat that awaits once you polish off those dying tomatoes . But , if you ’re inclined , you’re able to still growcool - atmospheric condition vegetablesfor a while .
If you grow from seeded player , determine the date of your geographical zone ’s first fall freeze . Then seem at the semen packet ’s count on prison term to due date , lend a couple of workweek to describe for the stunting effects of cold conditions and drop those seed in the ground accordingly . Amy the Nurse / Flickr
That say , as of late September or early October , most works ( except fast - growing radishes ) wo n’t reach out harvest maturity before nights get cold enough to wither them .
Never dread ! If you may find cool - weather works part , they should boom in the chilly autumn weather and grow delicious , homegrown vegetables up until the first rime . Appropriate coolheaded - weather plants includeroot vegetables , lettuce , spinachand brassicas such askale , kohlrabiandcabbage . If you want to keep those homegrown salads going into other wintertime , acold framecan protect plant from freeze until the first deep frost .
Clear Old Plants & Prepare Soil
You should treat those warm - weather plants , though . execute a few bare chores can get your garden ready for wintertime and make your spring preparation well-situated .
First , get those old and conk plants out of the garden . I like to cut them at ground level to carry on ecosystems that form around roots , but pull any pathological plants to keep your garden goodly . Compost or sink the plants so your soil can benefit from their nutrients next season . Trim back your perennial , and prune any trees or bushes that respond well to that in the fall . ( Not all do . ) Also , give your garden a good weeding , pulling unwished industrial plant so they do n’t deplete your soil of nutrient .
Your soil need some tending , too . cut into , sprain or till in the subject of your compost bin(s ) and ground amendments to give your earth a vitamin rise after that summertime workout . summate this before spring ensures the additives will be bring out down and absorbed by spring planting . If you have a no - public treasury garden , you probably do n’t require to do much amending , though you’re able to topdress compost and amendments or put them on top of the ground . Also , if you be after to transition to no - till garden next season , now ’s a great time to wreak in some good stuff so your ground is as healthy as potential for the change .
Amy the Nurse/Flickr
Also , think ahead to your garden ’s state of being in the winter months , when dethaw snow can wash away slack dirt . Cover harvest such as vetch and Secale cereale can help operate dirt in place , and a hearty mulching will protect soil from wearing .
When your garden is ready for winter , take a moment to reflect on this twelvemonth ’s growth . What did you enjoy farm , and what seemed like more work than it was worth ? Did some plant life do better than you anticipate , while others underperformed ? Were you felicitous with the esthetics of your garden , or did you care you had arranged and planted differently ?
Spring will be here before you have sex it , and seed catalogue will soon pile on the kitchen counter , so take the meter now to evaluate how things do work out this twelvemonth and begin considering , analyze and planning for what you want to do next twelvemonth .
