7 productive ways to enjoy the garden in fall and winter

At the end of summer, the crops begin to complete their cycle and die as the coldest time of the year approaches. All is not lost, in autumn and winter you can still do activities in the garden and even some seasonal crops.

orchard in winter

Contents

plant garlic

Garlic cloves planted in the fall are generally larger and have better flavor than those planted in the spring. This is because we have given it time to root when it is not yet so cold and so the bulbs will be better developed by the time the warm weather arrives. If we plant garlic from September to November, we can harvest it in summer and if we do it later, it will be in autumn.

Cool season crops

Green leafy vegetables such as arugula, chard, lettuce, pollock, kale, spinach are plants that will do well on these dates. You can put a good layer of padding on them to protect them from the cold or keep them moist longer. In addition, if you want to continue harvesting and it is too cold in your country, you can cover the rows with thermal mesh for the harshest winters.

Other plants that we can grow are carrots, turnips, rutabagas, radishes, parsnips or beets. When the temperatures drop, it would be ideal to give them a good layer of padding.

Edible perennial crops

Normally we think that when we start planting in the garden is in spring, but in autumn we can also perform many tasks. There are so-called perennial crops, which means that they do not die when the cold comes, but rather they last until spring. The crown can die back in sub-zero temperatures, with the active roots remaining underground to regrow when the heat arrives. Some of these plants are asparagus, rhubarb, horseradish, celery, blueberries, etc.

ASPARAGUS TONGS APOLO F1 - MESH 10 UNITS

ASPARAGUS TONGS APOLO F1 – MESH 10 UNITS

  • Mesh of 10 units of asparagus claws of the APOLO F1 variety.
  • Characterized by the production of large asparagus, great uniformity and productivity.
  • The buds are green, with a very slight purple tint in cold weather. Provides very compact and closed shoots of large size.
  • An abundant supply of manure is recommended, in autumn before sowing.
  • Asparagus is usually grown in sandy soil.

plant onions

Another plant that is resistant to low temperatures is the onion, it can be planted from autumn, so it can be harvested in mid-spring. Onions are normally sold in bunches with small seedlings but can also be planted with small immature bulbs which can be purchased. If you bought the bouquet, the ideal is to cut the tips in half and the roots identically so that they are renewed when planting.

Another way to plant onions is through seed, we will sow them in the fall and cover them with a thin layer of mulch to protect them from weeds and keep the soil moist. When the first shoots come out and grow a little, we add mulch.

Improve the ground

After a long growing season, the best thing to do in the fall is to condition the soil for the next harvest. If it is too cold in your area and you cannot plant, you have the option of preparing the ground for next spring and if you can plant winter crops, we prepare it first and then plant.

We will add more organic matter to the soil in the form of compost, worm humus, manure or biochar. Soil organisms will thank you as they will have food for the cold season, they will also leave nutrients available for plants, improve soil structure, buffer pH levels and provide resistance to pests and diseases.

Green subscription

Another way to keep flower beds healthy is to plant cover crops on empty beds during the cold season. If you use the no dig no till type of cultivation (you don’t till the soil), this is an ideal method to keep the soil well nourished. We will be planting green manure crops like clover, alfalfa, beans or other nitrogen fixers in the fall. The crop will grow and develop until the cold or final growing season arrives and it dies. We do nothing until it is time to put them back in cultivation, we can cut them and spread them over the surface to be planted, leaving the unrooted roots underground.

This method has several advantages, the roots hold the soil preventing runoff, erosion and compaction caused by rain and snow. In addition, if we plant them densely, we will prevent the growth of many weeds.

Ecological fertilizers - Vetch Green fertilizer box 1.5 kg.  - Battle

Ecological fertilizers – Vetch Green fertilizer box 1.5 kg. – Battle

  • Batlle Green Fertilizer is an ecological alternative to fertilize the soil
  • Veza Sativa generates a symbiosis with soil microorganisms that allows it to fix nitrogen from the air, fertilizing the area where it is grown
  • When the crop is in flower, bury all the organic material of the plant (leaves, stems and roots) which, when decomposed, provides nutrients
  • On the other hand, during a crop rotation, the problems of weeds decrease

apply padding

Mulching the garden is one of the last steps that we must always do due to its many advantages:

  • Covering empty beds will provide protection from rain, snow and wind.
  • If we choose an organic one, as it decomposes it will provide nutrients to the soil.
  • Weeds will not grow if the depth of mulch is adequate.
  • If you live in a place where the winter is not so cold and there is little rain, the padding will keep the soil moist longer.
  • Straw, sawdust, wood shavings. barks are good mulch options.
  • Although you can opt for free mulch like fallen tree leaves, pine needles (be careful as this strongly acidifies the soil), grass clippings.
  • In a pinch, you can use a few layers of cardboard.

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standing vegetable garden in winter

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