Garden Tasks for Late Fall
September and October are the months to prepare your garden for the winter. In warmer areas, the fall is the time to plant cool-season vegetables. In colder climates, gardeners need to “put the garden to bed.” Here are the main fall gardening chores for the fall, including warmer and cooler climates.
Cool Climates (Pennsylvania and north)
Remove dead flower stalks (example: daylily flower stalks), dead leaves, flowers and debris, but wait until perennials are …
Planning for the Fall Garden
Planting, growing and harvesting does not have to end with the summer! There are a number of crops that can be planted in August. Because of short growing seasons, or tolerance for frost and cold temperatures, these crops will thrive and reward you late into the fall, even into the early winter after the first light snowfalls. In order for this to be successful, it is time now to begin planning for the fall garden.
Fall …
Beefing up the Winter Garden
Last week, I thought about how I can make my garden a little more interesting in the winter. The picture in the last post is highly unusual. We do not normally have snow at all-not even a few flakes. That means we have a very long winter without much snow and lots of brown and dormant lawns. If I get organized in time for next winter, I will be planting more of these plants to …
Ordering Seeds for your Organic Garden
The winter winds are blowing and it’s time to order seeds for your organic garden! Even though it’s not winter yet, while last summer’s gardening results are still fresh in your mind, now is a good time to start planning for next year. If you wait until February to plan, a few things will happen:
1) You might pay more for your seeds. …
Growing Greens in the Cold
Our last post got everyone ready for some yummy greens! Now, for the tastiest greens, you need to grow them yourself. Here are some tips to do just that!
Cold Frames
Garden with a cold frame and you can harvest vegetables all year round–even in the coldest of locations. Cold frames have been used in one …
Great Organic Greens!
Cooler weather means greens! As your grocery store prices rise, and “fresh” produce comes from Chile, you can grow some of your own to offset the cost and have tastier, more nutritious food on your dinner plate. Below, a portrait of greens, their nutritional values, recipes and how to grow them.
K K K Kale!
Kale is one of my all-time favorite greens. (Just ask …
Cold Weather Composting
Image by liketearsintherainAnimals and microorganisms that break down organic matter into compost rely heavily on temperature to help them. Heat acts as a catalyst, speeding up the composting process. Composting does not stop as the weather cools down, but there are some things you can do to make composting more successful in the cold.
Tips for Composting …
Indoor gardening – Using Artificial Lighting
During the short days of winter, the Northern gardener can help to bring spring a little closer by using artificial lights. Many gardeners turn their basements into a tropical oasis with plant life that is induced to grow by being under artificial light. Some people prefer to have their light-garden where they can enjoy it in their living area, and for these people there are many attractive ready-made, wood or metal light units.
For the …
Garden Insects In Winter.
Many people ask me how do most insects manage to live through the winter in cold or freezing sections of the country?
A few garden bugs are able to migrate to warmer climates, but most of these cold-bloodied creatures must adjust to freezing temperatures -or die. Specially endowed insects like the cinch bug produce an anti-freeze chemical that keeps their insides from turning to ice. Others calmly freeze without injury and await …
