Pig City Garden Calendar: Preparing your Garden for Winter

By Daniel Marvin

Sept. 7-13, 2009

As you go about harvesting the last of any part of your garden please remove the plants and plant debris completely for each specific annual crop that will no longer yield any veggies for your table this year and toss it all in your compost pile. If left in your garden you will undoubtedly gain a great many harmful insects that will over-winter in that plant matter and create bad and early problems in your next year’s garden. Heat generated in the compost pile will rid the debris of insects while developing organic matter (“Brown Gold”) to enhance your garden plot for years to come.

Next week I will cover the building of a composter.

I want you to plan and think ahead to late October when it will be important to rid your vegetable garden area of all plant life with exception of what winter-hardy crops you have or what is in your cold frame (if you are blessed with one). Next – turn your soil over with a spade or plow making certain you have brought the bottom soil to the top. I have a small garden and I will use a Rototiller and go through the bare ground at least twice – going in different directions. Then I’ll test the soil for pH and if it is around 5.5 to 6.0 I will add about 3-1/2 to 5 lbs of lime per 100 square feet of garden. Then I will add 3 or 4 inches of fresh cow or horse manure (or peat moss if not available) plus what leaf mold or other organic materials I have on hand and then roto-till that all into the ground. I will save the compost for use on specific crops in the spring when I plant.

You have guessed by now that I ask you to plan ahead so you can get what you need on hand or arrange for plowing, etc in advance.

Happy Gardening!

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Pig City Garden Calendar: Preparing your Garden for Winter

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