If you haven’t already, get your new spring flowering bulbs planted now.
Empty, clean and store planters where they will be dry for the winter.
If you are using a rain barrel or two to conserve water and reduce storm water runoff, they should be emptied and turned over to keep them dry during the winter months. Reconnect your downspout to direct the snowmelt and winter rain away from your foundation.
Cole crops like Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, collards and kale are made sweeter by frost so don’t pull them out yet. Harvest them as long as possible. You can also put up a low-tunnel to extend the season.
Instead of harvesting less hardy late season crops, leave them in the garden and tuck them in with a thick layer of straw so they don’t freeze as early. This includes carrots, beets, leeks, rutabagas, turnips, winter radishes, chard, Chinese cabbage and leaf lettuce. Cover the leaf lettuce first with floating row cover fabric which breathes but will keep the straw out of your salad.
Spread manure, rotted sawdust, rotted straw, and shredded leaves over the garden and plow them under; you’ll be surprised at the difference this organic matter will make in the fertility, physical structure and water-holding capacity of the soil.
Continue to check houseplants for insects that may have come indoors as you brought the plants inside.
If your soil has frozen to at least an inch thick, now is the time to start applying a 2-4” layer of protective mulch.
Oil and store gas powered equipment like lawn mowers and leaf blowers. Repair shops are in a slow period (at least until the snow flies and snow blowers need repair) so arrange for a tune-up and blade sharpening now.
Order seed catalogs now for garden planning in January. For variety, consider companies that specialize in old and rare varieties or wild flowers.
This educational blog is a series of informative articles from the Penn State Master Gardeners volunteers plus news concerning the group and their activities. For more information, click here.
