ECONOGAL

The first frost of fall occurred just a few days ago. The temperature stayed at 28°F for several hours. Mid-October is now what late September was in the 1990s-a normal date for a first hard freeze. Fall garden tasks are in full swing.

Knowing the forecast called for overnight lows in the twenties we prioritized harvesting everything that would be damaged. The Big Garden was the focus. However, yields this year were abysmal. Two hand baskets held the entire late harvest.

Root vegetables were left in place. Their growth will slow but not stop yet. The artichoke was prepared for overwintering. It was a complete failure not even yielding a single bud. But I want to try another year before giving up. And to be honest, the yield from this year’s garden was the poorest yet. Drought and heat are most likely to be blamed. Even the bugs were in short supply.

I covered the newly planted garlic with a layer of straw. I planted four varieties in two places in the fall garden. This is overcompensating for not planting any last year. However, skipping an occasional year results positively the following year. I may need to do that with tomatoes next year.

We tried covering several of the side garden plants with sheets, but only the east facing, back to a wall herb garden survived. The tomatoes and peppers and ornamental sweet potato vines all burned from frost bite.

Now comes the task of preparing the garden for winter. The larger plants will be cut at ground level. This usually includes cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and beans. However, eggplants, like the artichoke never produced a single flower. The cucumbers blossomed on stunted vines and only one deformed fruit formed. Tomatoes and beans came on late so many were too small to harvest. The peppers were the star of the garden!

But all are gone now. Cutting the stalks leaves the root system intact and helps keep the soil anchored to a certain extent. Our winter winds can reach 100 m.p.h. here on the High Plains.

Leaves will be raked and used as mulch as well as added to the compost pile. The tougher plants and flowers will be left outside before bringing those in pots inside. This includes herbs such as Rosemary. The Buffalo grass on the lot will remain uncut from now until spring in hopes of catching more snow. The same with some of the lower growing plants.

Hoses and plant supports need to go into storage by early November. Plus, I need to winterize water features. Basil is already repotted and inside. Other tender herbs that survived will receive the same treatment. The list is long but doable as afternoon temperatures are in the mid-seventies. What chores do you have for your fall garden?