Colder weather is on its way, but you still have a little time left to get a few things growing in the garden and prepare others for the threats of winter.  There shouldn’t be too many insect pests dining on your garden and landscape plants now that the weather is a bit cooler.  You should have decided by now which sections of the veggie  garden will be given a full spa treatment, and which ones will be planted (with protection, of course) in winter crops and herbs.

For those areas of the garden lucky enough to win the deluxe spa vacation package, you have options for improving the condition of the soil, but first you have to deal with the remnants of last summer’s crop.  I’m not a proponent of tilling, because as with power washing, most of us don’t know when to stop.  Think of it this way.  If you’re making drip coffee, and you grind the beans to a fine powder, the grounds just form a barrier at the bottom of the filter that even hot water can’t easily penetrate.  You’re essentially creating a big brick in your garden by powderizing the soil – neither water nor air will effectively reach your plants’ roots.

Composting directly into the garden, alongside growing crops is the easiest way to recycle nutrients back into the soil. This is one of the oldest composting methodologies, but there’s nothing wrong with other traditional methods of composting. Just do it whichever way works best for you. But do it. (Photo © lchriste2 – Fotolia.com)

So that leaves digging compost into your garden.  Wilting vegetation can be turned into the soil along with compost from your steamy pile of brown gold over in the far corner of the garden.  Some plants will be unsuitable for turning in (or composting) because they were stricken by diseases that may infect your soil, or their woody remains refuse to decompose in a timely manner.  Rotating the plantings in your garden can diminish the negative impacts of disease and soil-borne pests whose yet to hatch offspring are expecting the same glorious buffet their parents enjoyed this past summer.

This partially composted plant material can either be dug into the garden as it is, or allowed to compost further. When cleaning up your garden in the fall, throw out plants that look diseased. They don’t belong in your compost. (Photo ©maxandrew – Fotolia.com)

After you’ve cleaned out the spa beds, and added compost, you still have a couple of weeks to plant certain cover crops (or not – there are varied opinions on the hows, whys, and whens in small scale gardens), such as barley, rye, or wheat.  If you’re feeling really lucky, and think you have 6-8 weeks before the first frost, you can try some Austrian peas – their shoots are reputedly delicious.  The best time to plant legume ground covers has just about past, and while the cereal crops are good for weed control and soil stabilization, they aren’t nitrogen fixers like legumes, so they’ll feed on all that compost you just dug in.  When the cereal crops die after a hard freeze, and then are dug into the garden in early spring, they’ll improve the soil.

This time of year is a good time to have your soil tested, if you feel the need, or are just curious.  The Georgia Extension Service will perform the task for about $15, and here’s the link to order the test kit.  http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/soiltest123/Georgia.htm

Beets are one of many cold hardy root vegetables that do well in our area. Like parsnips, they become sweeter after a few frosts. (Photo © National Gardening Bureau)

Refer to our previous blog post for more information on growing crops during the cooler and downright cold weather.  Row covers and mulch could be your best friends (or BFFs) in the winter garden. https://randysnursery.com/taking-care-of-fall-business/

Peas, with proper protection from the cold, can be grown into the winter months. When the shoots reach about 6-8 inches, they can be harvested and are delicious fresh or sauteed. (Photo © National Gardening Bureau)

Last year, I may have posted the blog about dividing perennials too early (it was mid-July) and this year, I may have left it too late.  If you live in an area where you’re likely to still have six weeks before the ground freezes, it’s not too late to divide perennials.   This is, however,  the perfect time to divide peonies.  Here’s the link to last year’s blog post on dividing perennials.  https://randysnursery.com/falling-into-place/

Sources:

These webpages contain useful information about cover crops and cold weather crop gardening.  Some of the material is written with farms in mind, but the concepts usually retain their relevance when scaled down.

http://apps.caes.uga.edu/gafaces/?public=viewStory&pk_id=4523

http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.cfm?number=C813

http://apps.caes.uga.edu/gafaces/?public=viewStory&pk_id=4872

http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/articles/cover_crops_in_the_vegetable_garden/

http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/soiltest123/Georgia.htm

http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/monthly-garden-calendar-southeast-united-states

http://www.webgrower.com/regional/pdf/GA_vegplantchart_cir963.pdf

Header Image:  Parsnips, the queen of root vegetables, taste like carrots that have been kissed with sugar.  They are the ultimate roasted root vegetable, and in place of carrots, add distinctive flavor to carrot cake and quickbread recipes.  Many winter vegetables, especially parsnips, are sweeter after a few hard frosts.  (Photo ©duncanandison – Fotolia.com)