PREPPING GARDEN FOR WINTER
Winterizing the garden is the best way to build up your soil without having to do much through the cold season! I start by collecting all seeds to save and cutting off all of the plants above ground, leaving the root systems in the ground to decompose. Next we will add nutrients back into the soil.
Chicken manure is my main method of fertilizer as it is readily available. Because it is a hot manure, it needs time to break down before planting so adding it now is a great time. My chickens even do the work turning the soil when I toss some mealworms into the bed!
If you don’t have access to chicken manure, there are other things you can use. Animal manure is my favorite thing to add to the garden. Be mindful though when sourcing as not all poo is created equal. I personally choose to source from organically raised sources when not utilizing my own animals waste. Some people specifically raise rabbits for fertilizer because they can be added directly to the soil - no decomposition process needed.
Did you know it is possible to overwinter some of your garden plants? I am trying this with my green peppers and rosemary this year. For the peppers, cut back the steps and dig up the root ball. Once this is complete, repot and bring into the greenhouse or indoors. For rosemary, cut back a bit leaving the woody part in tact. Dig up the root ball and repot. Lots of plants can be pulled in from the garden so look up and see what can from yours! You may also live in a zone where bringing things in is unnecessary. Check your zones lowest temps and compare them to the temps a plant can survive in. My zone (5b) has many things that can tolerate fall frosts so I am leaving those things in the garden and will harvest from them as we are ready to eat!
Another way I am winterizing the beds is sowing a cover crop on some beds further away from the greenhouse. Sprinkle the seeds over the beds, turn over the soil, and that’s it! I like to do this a day or two before a rain is expected so the seeds are able to sprout.
Finally, DO NOT pull or cut down flowers until they are fully spent. These fading blossoms are the last bits of nutrition honeybees and other insects have before going into the winter. Leave them. The bees have been coming to your beautiful patch all summer long so keep them around as we head into winter. Many flowers (like calendula or herbs for example) have medicinal properties for the bees as well. Leave the flowers and help them into winter strong!