10 Fall Garden Tasks

1. Compost disease-free or frost-killed annual plant material, or work it into the garden soil to decompose before spring. 
2. Weed. Weeding helps keep them at bay and not getting a strong hold in the garden.
3. Add compost or manures to the fall garden soil so they have time to mellow before spring planting, feeding beneficial soil microorganisms over winter.
4. Mulch fallen leaves with a mower (bagger on) or a leaf sucker, so they break down more quickly. Incorporate mulched leaves into beds or compost. Leaves increase organic matter, which helps soil absorb and hold water, as well as feed soil organisms. 
5. Cut back perennials. If you live in a wet winter climate, cutting back in fall can help plants from staying too wet and rotting.
6. Clean tools. Remove any soil left on tools with a stiff, steel-bristle brush. Remove rust by scrubbing your tools with steel wool until the signs of rust are gone. Then rub the metal and wood with mineral oil, and store in a dry area.
7. Make notes. As gardeners, we’re already thinking about what to do differently next year.
8. Soil test. Fall is a great time to do a soil test. Look to your local county Cooperative Extension Service, which often performs soil tests, or can advise you on a local place to submit your test.
9. Store seeds in a cool, dry area. This is a good time to take inventory, creating a reorder for next year. 
10. Request seed catalogs!!!

For further reading got to: Essential Fall Garden Tasks

Fall Garden Update 2016

Now is the time to start planting your veggies for fall harvests!  Here is a great article explaining what to do and when to do it! 

Fall Garden Vegetables

Here is what I have planted so far in my fall garden:

• broccoli
• carrots
• beets
• turnips
• lettuce
• kale
• arugula
• peas
• bush beans
• cilantro

These are growing alongside the vegetables that are still producing in the garden like cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. 

 

My pumpkins are also coming along strong!

Growing Herbs

Here is a great article that explains how to grow herbs and which ones are the best to grow in your own yard!

Growing Herbs in the Garden

Garden Weeds: 8 Most Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Them For Good

Here are some ways to keep the weeds out of your garden without resorting to nasty chemicals that will damage the quality of your crops and your soil.

Natural Ways to Kill Weeds

Not Too Early To Start Planning Fall Crops

It is that time to start planing what you are going to grow and harvest this fall!  Here is a great article at one of my favorite websites for gardening tips!

Fall Garden Planting Guide

Growing Zucchini

I LOVE zucchini and this year I have planted some in a raised bed I made from landscape edging and garden soil.  

June Garden Chores 2016

June Garden Chores Included:

1. Weeding, Weeding, Weeding
2. Watering regularly
3. Watching closely for bug invaders...so far none...keeping fingers crossed that this holds true for the rest of the summer.
4. Built 2 more raised beds and planted zucchini and cantaloupe in them. They are growing quickly...must like the HOT weather!  I have caged a couple of the zucchini to grow them vertically and protect them from critters!
5. Planted 3 sweet potato slips in 2 grow bags...hoping that this works.
6. Planted cucumbers and built a simple trellis for them...going vertical with them this year.
7. Harvested the beets...planted onions in their place.
8. Harvested the sugar snap peas from the container...replaced with green beans in same container.
9. Planted more sugar snap peas near the trellis in the large raised bed.  Hoping that they sprout and do well.
10. Planted more lettuce and spinach to extend these harvests.
11. Planted some spaghetti squash...seeing if this takes...never have grown this before.
12. Planted all the tomato (12) and pepper plants (19) I was gifted.  Holy cow I hope these all take!
13. Transplanted and thinned the tomatoes I started from seed.  Have given away 12 of them.  Still have over 80 in starter pots.  Holy Moly...that is a ton of tomatoes!!!
14. Harvest the potatoes.  I was excited because this was the first time to grow potatoes.  I will need to plant more next year! Planted some bush beans in the place of the potatoes.  
15. Harvesting the herbs as needed.  Planted another round of cilantro from seed. I need this for my salsa when the tomatoes and peppers and onions are ready!