How To Prep Your Garden for Fall
October is here, which means it's the season of cozy sweaters and pumpkin spice everything, but before we hibernate for the winter, let's get our garden beds ready for the colder months ahead. Today, we’re chatting all things how to prep your garden for fall. We'll dive into everything you need to know from gauging the first frost, and mulching, to planting fall crops and more. So let's jump in!
Gauge Your First Frost Date
The first step to a fall garden is to gauge your first frost date. This is when temperatures dip low enough to damage tender plants. A quick Google search like "first frost date [your city]" will give you a good estimate. You can also ask your local garden center.
Why is this important? Because the first frost date is your deadline for planting and prepping. For most of us, this date falls somewhere between late October and early November. Knowing this date helps you plan backward, making sure all your fall crops have enough time to mature. So mark it on your calendar!
Timeline for Prepping Your Garden for Fall
Late September to Early October
1. Clean Up the Garden Beds
Out with the old and in with the new! Start by removing any dead or diseased plants from your garden beds. This helps prevent disease and pests from overwintering in your garden.
2. Harvest Remaining Summer Crops
Got some lingering tomatoes or zucchini? Pick ‘em before the frost gets them. Any veggies that can be stored should be harvested and properly stored.
3. Start Composting Fall Leaves
Those beautiful falling leaves? Start a compost pile with them to create rich, organic matter for next year’s garden.
Mid to Late October
4. Plant Fall and Winter Vegetables
Time to get those cool-weather crops in the ground. Think kale, spinach, garlic, and radishes (more on this later). These hardy plants can handle the cooler temperatures and will keep your garden going well into the fall.
5. Add Compost or Manure
Your soil worked hard all summer, so it deserves a little treat. Adding organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure will replenish nutrients and improve soil structure. Spread a generous layer over your garden beds and work it in lightly.
6. Hydration Before Hibernation
Before the ground freezes, give your garden a good, deep watering. This helps plants hydrate before winter and reduces stress. Once the ground is frozen, there’s no need to water.
7. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch
As temperatures drop, mulching becomes your garden’s best friend. A 2-3 inch layer of mulch will insulate plant roots, retain moisture, and keep pesky weeds at bay. Straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves work wonders.
Early November
8. Cover Crops: The Garden’s Winter Blanket
Plant cover crops like clover, rye, or vetch to protect and enrich your soil over the winter. These crops prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and add nutrients back into the soil.
How to Plant Cover Crops
Sow the seeds of your cover crops evenly over your garden bed, then lightly rake them into the soil. Water them well and let them grow throughout the fall and winter. In the spring, you can either till them into the soil or cut them back and use them as mulch.
9. Protect Perennials
Give your perennial plants some TLC by adding mulch or straw around their base. This helps protect their roots from freezing temperatures. Fall is also the perfect time to plant perennials and spring-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils. These plants need a period of cold dormancy to bloom in spring. Plant them now, and you’ll thank yourself when those first blooms brighten up your garden after a long winter.
Winterizing Shrubs and Trees
For your larger shrubs and trees, consider wrapping them with burlap to protect them from wind and frost damage. Adding a layer of mulch around their bases will also help insulate their roots.
10. Tools and Equipment: Winterizing Essentials
Don’t forget about your go-to garden tools! Clean, sharpen, and store them properly to extend their lifespan. Drain garden hoses and store them indoors to prevent damage from freezing temperatures.
The Best Fall Vegetables and Plants
Fall isn’t just about winding down; it’s also a great time for planting! To keep growing through the fall, cold frames and row covers are your best friends. These tools can help you extend your growing season by providing protection from frost and extending the warmth in your garden beds. You can use them to grow hardy greens like spinach, kale, and lettuce well into the colder months. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite fall gardening essentials below!
Leafy Greens
Kale and Spinach: These leafy greens LOVE cooler temperatures. Plant kale about 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost, and spinach 4-6 weeks prior. They can even handle a light frost, making them perfect for the chilly nights. Harvest kale leaves when they are about the size of your hand, and for spinach, go for a quick snip around 37-45 days after planting.
Root Vegetables
Carrots and Radishes: Sow carrot seeds directly into the soil about 10 weeks before the first frost. They love the cool weather and can be harvested well into the fall—just keep an eye out and pull them up when they’re about the size of your pinky! Radishes grow super fast, so you can plant them around 4-6 weeks before the frost and they'll be ready in as little as 3-4 weeks.
Alliums
Garlic and Onions: Plant garlic cloves and onion sets in the fall—around 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes. By next summer, they’ll be ready to harvest! Garlic should be harvested when the lower leaves turn brown but the upper ones are still green. Onions are ready when their tops fall over and dry out.
Brassicas
Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts: These brassicas can withstand colder temperatures, making them the perfect pick for fall gardens. Start broccoli indoors about 6-8 weeks before your first fall frost and transplant them outdoors 4-6 weeks before the frost. Brussels sprouts take a bit longer, so start them 16-20 weeks before the first frost. Harvest broccoli heads before the flowers open, and for Brussels sprouts, wait until the tiny cabbage-like heads are firm and 1-2 inches across.
Planning for Next Year
While you’re prepping for fall, it’s also a great time to plan for next spring. Consider these tips:
Document Your Successes and Failures: Keep a garden journal to note what worked and what didn’t.
Order Seeds Early: Start browsing seed catalogs and make a list of what you want to plant next year.
Sketch Your Garden Layout: Having a plan can help you make the most of your garden space come spring. Speaking of gardening planning check out Seedtime, the fastest FREE way to plan your garden. It's an amazing tool that I absolutely love! Visualize exactly when to seed, transplant, or harvest crops in your garden all year round based on your local area. It’s super easy to use and so helpful. Add crops to your gardening calendar to easily see recommended times to seed, transplant, or harvest them. You can even customize and adjust the planting schedules to meet your specific needs. Plus, you get a daily or weekly task list that automatically compiles from your gardening calendar plan, so you can easily keep track of what you have or haven't accomplished. You also get easy access to vegetable, herb, and flower seeds from major brands like High Mowing Organic Seeds and True Leaf Market and can shop for organic fertilizers, natural pest and disease control, and more. I highly recommend giving it a try!
Growing Gourds and Pumpkins
Nothing says fall like a garden full of pumpkins and decorative gourds. They’re not just for pies and soups; they make beautiful decorations, too.
Didn't add them to your garden this year? No worries! They're super easy to grow.
How to Grow Gourds and Pumpkins
Pick the Perfect Spot: These plants love sunlight, so find a sunny spot in your garden. The more sun, the merrier!
Prep the Soil: Pumpkins and gourds need nutrient-rich soil. Mix in compost or aged manure a few weeks before planting to give the soil a boost.
Sow the Seeds: Plant the seeds directly into the garden after the last frost in spring. Space them about 2-3 feet apart to give those vines room to sprawl.
Keep Them Hydrated: Water them regularly, especially during dry spells. A good soak once a week should do the trick.
Feed Them Well: Once they start to grow, feed them with a balanced fertilizer every couple of weeks.
Watch Out for Pests: Keep an eye out for pests like squash bugs and beetles. Neem oil or insecticidal soap can help keep them at bay.
Harvest Time: Gourds are usually ready for harvest in late summer to early fall. When the stems start to dry and turn brown, it’s game on!
That's it for today’s garden chat. Prepping your garden for fall is not just about protecting your plants from the cold; it's also about setting the stage for a successful growing season next year. By taking these steps now, you'll make sure that your garden is healthy, productive, and ready to burst back to life come spring.
Happy gardening, and enjoy the beauty of the fall season!
Have any tips or tricks of your own? Share them in the comments below!
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