A Guide to Season Switching
As we approach the end of summer, it’s time to start thinking about switching to a fall garden. While we harvest the rest of our summer crop and begin to get excited about all the plants we will have in the fall, shifting our focus to the tasks involved is crucial as we enter September. I have outlined a step-by-step guide to help you accomplish everything you need to do for the start of the next season.
1. Harvest everything and pull all your summer crops
Harvesting tomatoes.
Pulling out crops at the end of the season.
Apart from biennials and perennials, it’s come time to harvest your garden down to its stubs. Harvest everything. Pull those final tomatoes, trim all your basil to make a big batch of pesto, take it all. If you have a few late bloomers in your summer crops that are still pushing out a few more fruits or vegetables, you can let them continue, but don’t allow them too much space in your garden going into October.
2. Trim back perennial herbs
Cropping down parsley plants (an annual herb) at the end of the season.
Trimming back lavender.
Herbs like oregano, thyme, and lavender need a good haircut a couple of times a year, and season switch is a great time to do so. You can trim them down to only a few inches above the soil and harvest all that delicious herb to dry, dehydrate, or infuse in oil. I often make herb gift bags for family and friends if I have too much leftover from harvesting.
3. Compost all plant scrap appropriately
A garden compost bin is catch-all for most plant scrap, foliage, and kitchen scrap. Avoid meat products, diseased plant material, and certain dairy products.
Make sure to compost plant debris and foliage in the correct places: if any plant scrap is diseased or pest-ridden, compost only in your local city compost bins to deter any future plant disease. Compost all other plant foliage in your at-home system if you have one; if not, city compost will suffice.
4. Work through all existing soil to remove any pests, rot, or remaining root systems
Digging into soil to work it and remove unwanted pests and roots.
A variety of soil pests and larvae that are harmful to crops.
It’s essential to sift through existing soil to loosen it up and catch anything that could impede future healthy plant growth. Various pests live in soil and around roots that you must remove before planting new crops. Working the soil helps to remove pests and leftover root structures and does the work of aeration prior to adding new soil and amendments.
5. Work and amend soil
Hand mixing soil is the best way to incorporate amendments and new soil.
Worm casting, perlite, and peat moss are just a few of the wonderful amendments you can use to improve soil quality.
After loosening existing soil, you can add new soil, compost, and any other amendments your soil may need. If you are unsure what amendments your soil needs, you can test your soil pH and active mineral content with a home test kit. I generally add organic soil, organic compost, worm castings, and small organic bark chips.
6. Select desired crops and decide where to plant them
Choosing started plants at your local nursery is the best part of season switching.
Drawing or planning out your garden design is a helpful asset in garden success.
Once you have created a crop list for the upcoming season, you should plan out where to plant them. Using crop rotation and light patterns is helpful with knowing where to plant crops. For example, reserve all full sun areas for cole crops (broccoli, cabbage, etc.) and partial shade for lettuce and leafy greens. Having a design plan for crop location will assist you in keeping your garden healthy and thriving.
7. Plant your crops and water
Planting crops is a family affair!
Watering your plants into the soil is essential.
Once you have amended the soil, plants have been purchased or started, and a design is in place, it’s time to plant! Remember to massage nursery starts out of their containers gently and loosen their roots before planting. Take spacing and planting depth into account for each crop or seed. Make sure to water everything in! If you are planting starts, it is optional to water them with fertilizer if they are large enough (I typically only do this with hardier crops like cauliflower or pumpkin once they have developed true leaves.)
8. Label all your crops with varieties and planting dates
Labeling your plants will help to maintain organization in your garden.
Labeling your crops with the plant name, variety, and date planted will help you maintain your garden organization throughout the growing season.
9. Crack open an ice-cold beer or kombucha, sit back, and enjoy your newly planted garden
Enjoying and relaxing in the garden is one of the many benefits of growing plants.
Kick back and enjoy the view of all your hard work.
Once everything is planted, watered, and labeled, enjoy the fruits of your labor! You just pulled a lot of work out from under your garden belt and switched seasons! I made this the second to last task because you deserve a break, you just did the damn thing!
10. Make a maintenance plan
Set up your irrigation system to accommodate your new gaggle of crops.
Keeping a garden calendar will eliminate stress and help you balance out your gardening schedule.
Once your garden is planted and ready for the new season, it is not the time to become lazy. Making a maintenance plan is beneficial in long-term garden care. Decide which days of the week are watering days, set your irrigation system to that schedule, plan out days to fertilize, and give yourself time to do garden walkthroughs at least once or twice a week to check for pests, disease, weeds, or anything else that may happen.
It may sound like quite a bit to accomplish, but season switch can be such a fun time in your garden. It’s time to be creative with your garden design, plant new crops you’ve never tried to grow before, and get intimate with your plants. If you feel overwhelmed, follow these steps one by one and get your garden ready for its next phase. Happy gardening, friends.
WANT TO WORK WITH THE EARTH WITCH? CONTACT ME TODAY
TO SET UP YOUR VIRTUAL INITIAL CONSULTATION!