Now’s the Time to Put the Vegetable Garden to Bed

This week’s weather is the signal it’s time to put the vegetable garden to bed. This involves harvesting the last of the tomatoes and vegetables, clearing the garden beds of all plant material and debris and preparing the soil for next spring.  It’s important to remember that what you don’t accomplish in the garden now, you’ll need to do in the spring, when you’re eager to plant your garden, not clean it up. Garden chores done now, allow you to focus on planting in the spring, knowing that your garden beds are healthy and your soil is ready. Start with a thorough cleaning of your vegetable garden.  This includes digging up what’s left of tomato and potato plants, cucumber and pumpkin vines and any other warm weather plants you may have grown this year. Leaving tomato and vegetable plant roots and debris in your garden after you've finished harvesting, will provide hiding places for pests and plant diseases, giving them a head start on your garden next spring. 

A good example is powdery mildew. If powdery mildew is a persistent problem in your garden, it's because the spores can winter over on leaves, stems and other plant material left in the garden.  

The second reason for fall cleanup is to facilitate adding organic material to your garden beds while the soil is warm and workable. Healthy soil is key to your garden’ success and fall is the ideal time to amend your soil. Plan to add 2" to 3" of organic materials to your existing soil. This includes raised bed as well as traditional in-ground garden plots. Look for packaged organic soil amendments that you can easily transport home and work into the garden.  This includes Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost, Cow and Compost and Organic Compost. These products are produced locally and will work effectively in our clay soils.  

A one cubic foot bag of Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost or Cow and Compost will cover ten square feet, two inches deep. Spread the soil amendments evenly over the bed and dig in to a depth of six inches. Organic material will improve soil structure and increase microbial activity, which leads to stronger root development and improved nutrient uptake, next season. This is also a good time to apply granular humate. Adding humate now will improve crop nutrient uptake and help improve yields overall next season.  

Protect your garden soil through the winter with cover crops and natural mulch.  Winter rye, buckwheat and oats are good choices for cover crops.  Cover crops can still be planted now, though they may not achieve maximum bio-mass. What does germinate will help protect your garden soil’s microbial life as well as improve soil structure when it is worked in next spring. Tree leaves are also a good choice to protect your soil through the winter. Shredded leaves can be broadcast over the garden, providing protection for soil structure and microbial life. Come spring, the decomposing leaves can be worked into the garden soil or added to your compost pile. If you don’t have access to leaves, apply a two-to-three-inch layer of Soil Pep to the surface of your bed and work it in come spring. Added together, cover crops and organic material will help build and maintain healthy, microbial-rich soil, a sure way to improve the yields in your garden.  Make fall garden clean up a part of your routine. It will set up your vegetable garden for a great start next spring.  

Now’s the Time to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs

 

When you're looking to add color and interest to your spring garden, flower bulbs are the best place to start. Available in a rainbow of colors, these hardy bulbs start showing up in early spring when the crocus poke their heads up through the snow, followed soon by the daffodils and then a parade of early, mid and late blooming tulips.  The best time to plant these flowering bulbs is now, in October. The soil temperature is cooler, but still warm enough to allow the bulbs to root before the ground freezes. Begin by selecting quality bulbs.  

Choose bulbs that are firm and light tan in color. As you’re selecting your hardy bulbs, take into account bloom time. Planting combinations of early, mid- and late-season bulbs will extend the flowering season. Crocus are the earliest of the spring blooming bulbs, followed by daffodils, hyacinths and then tulips – early, mid and late. For added interest, consider planting a few of the specialty bulbs such as Anemones, or Muscari. 

Bulbs are available in individual containers or as pre-packaged assortments. Loose-packed bulbs allow you to mix and match color, height and bloom time. Pre-packed bulbs are convenient.  The arrangement is ready for you to take home and plant. That said, choosing from containers allows you to select each bulb individually. 

 

When planning your bulb garden, it’s important to decide whether you’re going to plant a formal bed or scatter the bulbs throughout your landscape for a more natural look. There are several advantages to planting your bulbs in your perennial beds or open spaces. You’ll be adding early color to an otherwise bare space in your gardens and as your perennials emerge, they’ll help mask the bulb foliage as it fades. 

 

Whether you choose a natural look or a more formal planting, your bulbs will bloom best if you plant them in a site where they’ll receive at least six hours of sunlight. Prepare the site by amending the existing soil with organic material, such as Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost. Plan to lay down two to three inches of amendments to the site, then mix thoroughly with the existing soil to a depth of six to seven inches. You can use a garden spade or garden fork to prepare the ground.  Once the site is prepared, you’re ready to plant your bulbs. A good rule of thumb is to plant each bulb pointed side up, at a depth that’s equal to three times the bulb’s height. In other words, a two-inch tall bulb should be planted six inches deep.  Spacing between bulbs should be about a bulb’s width apart. This is a good time to add some Dutch Bulb Food, then cover the fertilizer lightly with soil. This allows the bulb to root into the fertilizer. Next, place eight or ten bulbs flat side down in the planting hole. Cover the bulbs with soil and water thoroughly. You may choose to plant some of your bulbs in existing perennial beds. In this case, a bulb planter or bulb auger allows you to easily dig a hole and plant your bulbs without disturbing any perennials or shrubs already planted there. Once planted, mark the spot and water the site thoroughly. Check on your bulbs through the winter. They should be watered every four to five weeks, along with the rest of the trees and shrubs in your landscape. Bulbs planted now will offer a profusion of spring color for many seasons to come.