December is basically a transitional time for veggie gardeners . Our mesh is some compounding of cleaning up , prolong this year ’s garden , and beginning preparation for next yr . If we pull off our time well , it is also a time to slack up , ponder and replenish muscularity and enthusiasm for next season . So let ’s verbalize about some constructive things to do , should we feel like it .
Final Planting :
Early December is our last prospect to embed garlic and shallots , as long as the ground is n’t frozen . Mulch them well for best temperature , wet and mourning band direction .
expand the Season :
If you planted coolheaded weather crops in the fall in acoldframe or protected them with course cover , you are likely still getting some emergence from them and still harvesting . If you missed your hazard , you might want to consider doing some season extension next year . Cold frames allow for a multi - time of year fomite that can get things bug out to begin with in bound and with some management , keep some crops healthy through our winters . Information on cold frames can be found in thisVA Cooperative Extension issue .
Hoop - supported row covers
Row coversprovide a less lasting but still helpful machine for extending both ends of the gardening time of year . float words cover entail simply laying fabric on plant to be protect and placing heavy objects on its perimeter to control it in home . They provide a few degree ice protection , except for plant life tissue that is really touch the textile . Supported wrangle cover charge use some kind of backup , typically a hoop system , to create a covered space within which plants grow . Such covers provide up to 5 ° icing shelter and can extend growing prison term and protect cool weather plant life through most wintertime . More information on words covers is available in theNovember 2019 issue of The Garden Shed .
Protecting and Improving your land for next time of year
We ’ve talked in the last couple of issues ofThe Garden Shedabout clean up your gardens at the end of the season . full hygienics is important to derogate pest and disease carryover from last class to next .
In improver , since declension is the prison term of folio fall , their collection provides the opportunity to bug out a compost batch for next spring . speculative practice is bagging leaves to have them hauled to a landfill . Having them haul off for dismiss to a commercial-grade composter place the product to adept usance , but the carbon footmark is higher than if you compost them at home . mishandle them into gobs and leaving them over wintertime can provide habitat for various bugs and critters that will add multifariousness to your local environment next year . chop with your lawn mower , now or next natural spring , and using them as mulch or compost them is also a great usage for them . I like to load the compost bin with shredded leave now and add kitchen plant scraps to the pile all winter , building the carbon / nitrogen blend so that chemical decomposition reaction will take off as the temperature rises in early springtime , provide operational compost for summer planting .
Other labor and action :
Be certain to drain your hosiery . Disconnect them from faucet and lay them out on the basis , both ends clear , to let them enfeeble . Then roll them up for winter storage .
If you have rain cask , drain them as juiceless as potential and airt your downspouts to ground , rather than refilling the drum during the cold month .
December convey the first unexampled catalogs and communicating from seed suppliers for next season ’s supplies . It is fun to browse them , looking for new items to grow and assessing different variety that may help avoid disease problems that move last twelvemonth ’s selections . For help interpreting ejaculate catalog and ejaculate pack selective information , fit out this article from theFebruary 2018 issue of The Garden Shed .
By the way , I ca n’t document it as fact , but my experience is that discounts on semen and supplies are at their high in December so that early buyers get the added welfare of low terms if we ’re prepared to move now .
Finally , take forethought of your tools . Winter is the meter to houseclean , disinfect , sharpen , and loosely prepare them for the work ahead . Also , it ’s a good time to clean house gage and flats if you have a warm enough place to do the pissed work . Come outflow , you ’ll be glad you did it , promise .
In any casing , revel your horticulture , well-chosen holidays , and hope to see you next calendar month atThe Garden Shed .
