Planting the Plains

Most of us think of the end of growing season as a time to clear the garden, clean the tools, and prep things for spring. But the brave among us will let things go for a while longer...just long enough to get some overnight frost, just before they harvest the last vegetables from their growing space. This lets nature work its magic, and leads to richer and more flavorful crops...not with all garden plants, but with a few veggies that we'll discuss in this week's show!

It may not be the first month that comes to mind, but October can be a great time to plant a tree, as it'll have a jump on building its root system once it's spring. This week, we'll talk about a few special considerations to keep in mind, in order for your tree to get off to its best start.

With the frosts due soon, it may be time to look at harvesting some of your crops soon, even if they don't seem full-grown. Failing to do so might mean losing out on some of your garden's bounty, so don't let the idea of perfection keep you from enjoying some baby vegetables, rather than none at all! This week, we'll talk about how to selectively time your harvesting, to let your plants grow as much as possible before they're at risk.

Bolting can cause your plants to lose their taste and texture, and it's easy to feel disappointed when your crop is ruined. Don't fret; all is not lost! This week, we'll talk about some ways that your garden can still benefit from this misfortune.

We spoke a few weeks ago about getting a good lawn into your yard; this week, we'll talk about how to maintain it during the fall, as the temperatures cool.

As September kicks in, and the usual weather changes approach, it's time to do some cleanup...AND to decide on what to do with what you clean up. This week, we'll talk about some things you can do to prep for next year's garden!

Growing edibles like garlic and shallots in your garden can be rewarding in many ways...but it's important to know how to grow these finicky plants, and to obtain your bulbs for planting from a specialized garden center, to help avoid contaminants like fungal diseases and nematodes...this week, we'll talk about how to get the most viable crop possible!

Fall is an excellent time to see new grass growth due to a combination of factors: warm soil temperatures, cooler air, and increased rainfall, which all favor seed germination and healthy root development. This week, we'll talk about how to kick-start your lawn, for a richer, thicker turf in the spring!

We're coming up on the late summer/early fall time that's ideal for planting chrysanthemums. Early planting (late August/early September) is crucial to allow for root development before the first frost, and so it'll be important to get them into the ground soon. This week on Planting the Plains...mum's the word!

Early fall and early spring are the best times of the year to divide perennials, in order to provide transplants with enough time to devote energy to root growth before the hot or cold weather sets in.