As the weather will soon start to cool down, there’s a good chance that your green thumb is starting to get an itch for working in that fall garden. Most people are probably thinking about the standard crops, but here are a few non-conventional ideas that you may want to consider the next time you head out with your tractor when the temperatures start to dip:
1. Don’t Forget the Edible Weeds
You can’t go wrong with growing weeds that are meant to be in your garden. It may be that some of them are already growing somewhere on your property. As this blog illustrates, there are several types of edible weeds that you can capitalize on during your garden planning. Examples include Chickweed, Wood Sorrel, Goldenrod, and Cattails. Read more about those and other edible weed options here.
(Source image, per blog: Elenarts/iStock/Thinkstock)
7 Edible Weeds Growing On The Farm In Fall
2. Making Wine from Your Harvest
Instead of canning or baking with your fall produce, you might want to consider using them to make a homemade mead, cider, or a wine. Even pumpkins can make a tasty drink when they’re fermented with the proper ingredients. Read more about how to make one-of-a-kind drinks from things like apples, pears, blossoms, and berries here.
(Photo source per blog: PHOTO: Nan K. Chase)
6 Fall Crops To Harvest For Fermented Drinks
3. Plant Cold-Hardy Crops
Just because winter is bringing the cold weather with it doesn’t mean you can’t be making good use of your garden. Consider using your “down time” to plant some alternative produce, such as leeks. Plant leeks as seeds and they’ll grow well into the winter…even during snow. Follow the step-by-step instructions on how to grow them here.
4. Garlic for Vampires…or Just Your Pizza.
When you time it right, you can plant garlic in the autumn so that it’s ready to harvest the next summer. Yes, the growing time is a bit lengthy, but the payoff is worth it. You can store garlic bulbs for months and use them in just about anything. Read about the different varieties and what you need to know before planting garlic, here.
How to Plant Garlic this Fall for Summer Harvest
5. Get Ready for Next Year!
Plan ahead. Before you know it, your summer crop will be gone and so will fall…make a mental note of what you’re going to want to be planting in the spring. One of the most important steps is fortifying your soil before the winter gets here, so that ground nutrients aren’t wearing out to the point where the next harvest will suffer. This blog goes over several steps to make sure you’re planning well ahead for the next season of plants.
After the Harvest Fall Gardening List
When it comes to fall gardening and cold weather, it’s time to think outside of the box! Create an action plan and try something new. After all, it’s just a few months…but with the right preparation you can make use of several good opportunities to capitalize on the fall and winter season.
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