Autumn has begun and frost isn’t far away.  Gardens are showing leaf loss on squash, cukes, peppers, tomatoes, and basil.  These are among the cold susceptible plants.  Cold tolerant plants like broccoli, cabbage, kale, and arugula will keep growing.  In ground carrots, potatoes, onions, & turnips are fine and can be harvested when you have time.  Good News, there are a few easy precautions we can take to protect our favorite plants and extend the harvest season to get a little more out of our summer work.  It’s also the best time to begin improving the soil for next year’s garden and lawns with agricultural lime and compost.

Gardeners know well the tired appearance of plants after a growing season or a frost turns them into leaves drooping lifelessly on once vigorously growing plants.  Heat loving plants are the first to go.  Potatoes and onions know that cold is coming so have stopped growing and are pulling nutrients out of their leaves and putting them down into storage.  Trees and woody shrubs have begun doing the same so we see the foliage color changes as chlorophyll is returned to the roots for next year’s leaves.  Others, in the Brassica & Mustard families, almost seem invigorated by the early chills and continue growing bigger and sweeter. This includes cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and kales.  Root crops like beets, turnips, parsnips, and carrots are well protected underground and can continue to grow a bit more.  We can’t avoid the inevitable change of season but there are a few things we can do to extend our garden productivity and enjoyment. 

Crops that have been frost damaged will not recover and should be harvested before more damage can happen.  That means bringing in all frosted winter squashes (butternut, acorn, delicata, etc.) to fully “cure” (dry) before storage.  Harvest squashes by cutting with an inch or two of the stem attached to reduce rot from entering the fruit.  Lay them out in a well-ventilated space of a garage or garden shed to thoroughly dry the skins so they can be stored for the winter months.  Butternut especially needs time to cure and to sweeten the flesh so they will be in their prime for eating by Thanksgiving and afterwards.  Longer storage can be improved by wiping the dried skins off with vinegar or a 10% solution of bleach to eliminate most surface fungi that cause spoilage.

Tomatoes and peppers might still be able to ripen existing fruits (yes, they are fruits) once a cold spell has passed.  I recommend harvesting all ripe tomatoes and full-sized peppers before the first frost, to let them finish ripening indoors, if necessary.  Green tomatoes can also be ripened indoors.  Put them in a brown paper bag with a ripe apple or banana and check them every day.

When a frost is forecast cover plants with row cover (Agribon), bed sheets, or bath towels.  Blue tarps and black plastic might work but be sure to remove them before the sun shines to avoid overheating.  Cover flowers that you want to save such as dahlias, zinnias, marigolds, impatiens, petunias or move them inside or under a roof.  All of your greens, including kale, spinach, arugula, and most lettuces will be fine without any special protection.

To help plants survive a chill be sure they are well watered the day before a frost is forecast.  This is especially important for exposed container plants.  Moist soil holds the day’s heat better and a well hydrated plant is less prone to frost injury.

Harvesting potatoes and onions isn’t driven by the danger of frosts and can be done more casually.  It is important for storage to “cure” them both for a couple weeks before putting them into storage.  Do not wash them, just brush off loose soil and lay out in a shaded, well-ventilated area, and cover with a light blocking cloth (not plastic). I use old burlap bags.  It is important that the outer skins are very dry to prevent soil borne fungi from causing rot in storage.  A good online reference for crop storage is available from Vermont’s own Gardener’s Supply Company.

Planting in October   If you haven’t grown garlic before, this can be the year you start.  If you did grow garlic, select the largest heads for your own “seed cloves” to plant.  Local and online garden centers are selling “seed garlic” and a very good local source for seed garlic is Caravan Gardens on Rte. 103 in Cuttingsville.  Supermarket garlic is often imported and treated with bleach and a chemical to retard growth so isn’t recommended for planting.  Another good reason to grow your own!

Pest Alerts:  Aphids flourish in the cool fall weather.  Watch your fall broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and kale.  Treat with insecticidal soap.  House plants destined to move inside should be sprayed with the garden hose to wash off adult aphids before treating at least twice, one week apart, with insecticidal soap to eliminate the young aphids.  These tiny beasts have a remarkable ability to reproduce because the females are born pregnant! 

Remember to compost your food and yard wastes for the best garden fertilizer.