What do I do with my vegetable garden at the end of the season?
Most publications and websites suggest removing plant debris from your vegetable garden at the end of the season by removing the entire plant, including roots, leaves and stems, leaving the soil bare. It is claimed that diseases and insect pests can overwinter in this debris and return the following season. The cool days of autumn are a great time to get outside and do some garden cleanup. By getting rid of leftover plant debris in flower beds and the vegetable garden, you can reduce the risk of some common problems next year.
How do you winterize a vegetable garden?
Spread a layer of compost or other organic matter over empty garden beds to protect the soil from erosion, add nutrients and help winterize your vegetable garden. Monitor your compost pile and turn it one last time in the late fall to speed decomposition before winter. Once the earth is loose and workable, level the bed with a rake and plant seasonal bulbs and vegetables if you wish to. Then cover the bed with a protective layer of compost, straw, leaves or mulch. This will keep the ground warm over winter, prevent weeds and protect any newly added plants.
What is the best month to start a vegetable garden?
Spring is the perfect time to start planting your vegetable garden, and March is an excellent time to get started. With the right preparation and planning, you can grow a variety of vegetables that will provide you with fresh, healthy produce all season long. Mid-March is the best time to start many vegetables and annual flowers indoors for transplanting outside once the threat of frost has passed.Arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard and more can be grown in fall, but the time to start sowing the seeds is now, as August arrives, give or take a couple of weeks depending on your zone.Generally March and April, when the soil begins to warm, are the best months to begin sowing many hardy annual vegetable seeds outdoors including broccoli, cabbage, chard, carrots, peas and parsnips.