7 Fall Tasks to Prepare for Winter
It's November, and winter is almost upon us, but the frost isn't quite here to stay just yet. Here are seven tasks to prepare your garden for winter and also still reap a Fall harvest!
Harvest all of your warm-season vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, etc.) before the first frost. The first real frost usually occurs mid to late November, but that may not be the case this year. Please pay attention to your local weather channel for this date.
You may continue to plant transplants and harvest your cool-season vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, collards, mustards, lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, garlic, etc. Be sure to protect them from a "light" frost by covering them with a bed sheet or grow cloth. (They usually taste better after a frost, too!)
Even though the temperatures are decreasing, continue watering your plants. Lower temperatures can be just as damaging to your plants as higher temperatures when they're dry.
Store any remaining or harvested garden seeds in a cool, dry place. You can also put them in an airtight container and place them in the refrigerator or freezer until the next growing season.
Collect falling leaves to place in your garden and use in your compost pile. Leaves are Fall's most abundant crop and are an excellent source of organic matter and necessary nutrients. Leaves can also be used as mulch to protect your garden from winter weather.
Once your garden has gone dormant (you've harvested all of your cool-season veggies), Mix organic matter, like your compost and leaves, into your soil. This will help prepare and improve your soil over the winter for spring planting.
Before it gets too cold, protect your garden tools and equipment. Clean, sand, and oil your garden tools BEFORE storing them. Turn off the water to the water hose and drain it so that it won't freeze. Dump the soil in your garden bed and bring in ceramic or clay pots so that they won't crack in the freezing temperatures.
There are many more tasks that could be added to the list, but hopefully, this was an excellent start to get you prepared for the winter!