Don’t Put Away Those Garden Tools Yet

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Summer is over, but there’s still much to do in the garden. It may be time to plant a cover crop, but that’s not the only thing to put in the ground in October. Garlic and shallots are cold-hardy and winter over easily. Come harvest next year, your early planting will reward with bulbs 50% larger than if you wait until Spring to plant. Some spinach varieties mature from seed in 45 days. If the spinach doesn’t mature before the ground freezes, mulch over the plants with some hay. When the ground thaws, they’ll resume growing and you’ll be able to harvest them that much sooner.

Fall planting isn’t limited to vegetables. Blueberry bushes can also be planted this time of year, as can strawberries. Just be sure to mulch around the roots. Come spring, you’ll have a jump-start on your bounty.