How do you prepare for the next season when your crops are finished?
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Being honest, I'm tired of my summer crops. They're nearing the end of their production anyways, and at the end I felt I was just fighting to keep what I was growing. So now, I'm ready to harvest what's left and pull up my plants. My question is how do I go about "purifying" the beds from those pesky attackers (i.e. fungus, bugs, slugs) so that I can start fresh?
Beefsteak tomatoes and jalapeno peppers
Beefsteak tomatoes
Beefsteak tomatoes
Beefsteak tomatoes
10 answers
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I suggest you use cover crops which will overwinter in your beds. They prevent soil erosion, smother out weed seed and provide extra nutrients to your next crop going in in the spring. You local extension office can provide you with a detailed list of cover crops that do best in your area, so you can pick what would work best in your garden.
Catherine Smith
on Sep 10, 2013
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Annual Rye Grass Straw, or Old Hay
Jeanna
on Sep 10, 2013
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I agree with Catherine to check with your local extension office to find out what cover crops are good in your area. What's good up here in Minnesota where its gets really cold winters could be invasive in your warmer climate. One of the problems with straw or hay is that it can be difficult to find some without weed seeds in it. We also use pine straw which we get from our numerous pine trees.
TJ
on Sep 10, 2013
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You don't say whether your crops are in the ground, or in raised veg beds - depending on which, might make a difference. It they are in the ground and you practice crop rotation, ie don't plant anything from the same family in the same spot for example if you planted root veg, then plant leafy veg next time as they utilise different nutrients. If you do this I don't think you need to 'clean' your soil as such. Crop rotation will help to prevent disease and to prevent the soil becoming too depleted in one element. I would be turning the soil over and adding plenty of good compost and aged cow manure, but that is just me and it may depend on what you are going to grow there next. Good luck!
Carole
on Sep 11, 2013
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We get compost free in our area. Since I am ending my garden I start loading it up and dumping it in my garden. After I have pulled all my plants I retill the bed. Then I get several more truck loads and dump it on top of my garden. And leave it. Beginning of spring I till what's been left over. I always keep adding compost. There are several farmers that also will give use manure and I use it also but I always till it into the soil. Your farmers, and recycling centers and the extension center always gives me great advice.
Sherrie
on Sep 11, 2013
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You show you have green tomatoes, you can pull the plant and hang it upside down and get vine ripen tomatoes for several more months! I did that here in WA. state and had tomatoes all winter long! Just hang them where they will not freeze!
Mikell Paulson
on Sep 13, 2013
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Just hang the plants by the roots in the garage or a cool basement. I have an old Ikea coat rack with 6 hangers that i use for this purpose-last year I had tomatoes ripening right into November. Of course the smallest very hard green ones may not ripen and will rot and fall off, but anything that has reached a decent size will eventually ripen/
Hilary Aulando
on Sep 13, 2013
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It might be the climate but I picked tomatoes off the vines until March. I shared with the neighbors, and everyone enjoyed them! I sold my house and the neighbor came to the house with a wheelbarrow and asked if he could have the plants. I of course gave them to him, as they were just little tomatoes then. He said he got tomatoes until the first of May!! Worth a try, The last time I tried was putting them in a guest bedroom and having them in boxes covered with news papper. I prefer the hanging method much better!
Mikell Paulson
on Sep 14, 2013
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I also use boxes with newspaper, I wasn't happy with the results when we hung the plants, but it may have been the space. We had to use our unheated garage, may have been too cold.
Catherine Smith
on Sep 14, 2013
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My garage was not heated, but it was finished and insulated! Not many people know about this little spot in WA. We don't get much rain or snow and we don't normally have a lot of freezing weather! Three places are Port Angeles, Sequim, and Port Townsend! All are near the water and the mountains, sea to ski in 30 minutes!!
Mikell Paulson
on Sep 15, 2013
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