Frost Got 'Em

[dickiebird]

We got a good frost a couple nights ago and I only had enough covers for about about 5 tomato plants. Today I picked about 40 lbs. of green tomatos, and have about that many more to pick tomorrow.
Dug the rest of my sweet potatos and got about 30 lbs. of those.
Pulled all the cages, stakes and row markers, then brush hogged most everything except the few plants I've been covering, strawberries, asp. and brussel sprouts.
Sure was sad to see all the gigantiac okra stalks ground up.
I need to still pull down my pole bean fence and the posts out of my garden anex so I can brush hog that area.
When everything is done I'll add about 30 or so front loader buckets of composted manure, horse and chicken bedding.
I'll plow that in then till. I'll go back over the whole thing with another layer of compost and let that sit 'til spring.
Right before planting I'll till once more. Should be some great soil by then!!!

THANX RICH

 

[journey11]

Sounds like a good plan!

I finally got organized and cover cropped this year. I've got a big pile of composted manure/bedding/bark from the woodpile and spent hay -- nice and black, broke down and ready to till in next spring. I'll lime once the frost gets my buckwheat. We've still not gotten a frost up here yet! It came Oct. 17th last year. The city folks and the valleys have had some. I'm always last, so I get a fair warning. We'll probably see a freeze this week if nothing else. The weatherman said chance of light snow too.

I've got spinach, lettuce and radishes under a row cover. A few turnips in the corner. That's all I'm going to overwinter this year.

 

[digitS']

Wow! I wish I had the equipment (including yours truly ) to handle those kinds of resources (and weights)! I suspect that we all have access to the resources since so many people with livestock don't have a use for all the litter and waste. Moving that around is the problem.

In the garden, I'm always scratching around for every leaf, stem and fruit to carry off, right thru the growing season . . . So, the ground is left with very little by season's end. Whatever is there, I need to husband as best I can.

Then in the spring it is right back to purchasing some of the little bit higher-grade organic fertilizers and trying to figure out how best to get it where the plants can make good use of it. Only in my smaller gardens can I say that the soil is adequate in fertility - generally. It is great to just stir it up and see that it is rich with worm and microbe life and ready to support plants .

Steve

 

[vfem]

Yeah, I am getting ready to pull the rest of our summer stuff here too... 2 frost warnings and luckily just not yet. Haven't finished harvesting the basil for pesto and drying.

But did pull all the tomatoes... or at least the last few, today.

 

[lesa]

Putting the garden to bed is always sad for me. Looking out at a snow covered garden, doesn't do wonders for my mood! We have had frost, several times, and they are predicting snow flurries... So, I guess I really have to bring in the carrots, beets and brussell sprouts. And I need to start steaming swiss chard by the armload!! I am happy to be gardening into November. At least it will make winter seem a little shorter! Taking a peek at my canned goods brighten my day, a little bit!!

 

[journey11]

Wow! I wish I had the equipment (including yours truly ) to handle those kinds of resources (and weights)! I suspect that we all have access to the resources since so many people with livestock don't have a use for all the litter and waste. Moving that around is the problem.

I saw a dump truck for sale on my local Craigslist for $3600. If I'd had it, I would have bought it! That would sure do the trick, huh. (One or two loads and DH would be through--and he'd grumble less I suspect.) It would be nice for hauling our firewood too.

Taking a peek at my canned goods brighten my day, a little bit!!

That's for sure. It's a nice, cozy, satisfying feeling looking at that well-stocked shelf. Love it!

 

[Greenthumb18]

Yep I'm cleaning up the garden as well. Its a little depressing to see the season come to an end as your pulling all your plants up, but theirs always next year. Just have to be grateful for what you grew in your garden and appreciate it. Now I'm just trying to get a compost heap going on for next year. I'm going to try to divide some perennials and maybe plant some new ones I'll order. And try not to forget to plant some garlic and maybe some onions too.

 

[dickiebird]

Today I finished with pulling my pole bean fence and all the posts I used to support tomato plants.
Finished brush hogging everything and moved some things to expand the garden anex area.
I moved some strawberry plants from the greenhouse into the garden and was reminded that there is a bunch of asparagus to be moved from greenhouse to garden.
Greenthumb;
Thanks for the reminder to get my onions into the ground, wonder where I can get some garlic without ordering. I guess I'll try planting some from the grocery.

THANX RICH

 

[lesa]

I have always planted my onions in early spring... Is anybody in zone 4ish, planting them in the fall? Is there a benefit to this? I presume you mulch them, just like garlic?

 

[journey11]

Rich, I've found garlic at Lowe's in the past.

Lesa, I plant mine in spring too, just as early as I can. Now I'm curious if I should be planting them in the fall.