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In
the Vegetable Garden
The
main theme for this month, in most parts of the country, is harvest and
preparing for winter. Keep a keen eye to the weather and don't get
caught by a surprise freeze. It is also the time to plant winter
gardens.
While
this year's garden is fresh in mind, create or update your garden
journal. Draw a sketch of the garden listing what was planted
where. Note any pest or disease problems. Record what
varieties did well and what did not. Your journal will help you
layout your garden this winter and enable you to design in crop rotation.
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Save
tomato seeds from healthy and heavily fruited plants that are
demonstrating the specific characteristics that you desire or are
appropriate for the specific variety.
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Depending
on your location, radishes can be planted directly in the ground or in
cold frames.
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At
the approach of freezing temperature, portable cold frames can be
placed over Swiss chard, New Zealand spinach, and artichoke plants.
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Before
a hard freeze, be sure to cut back and heavily mulch artichokes and
cardoons. In some areas of the country, you may either need to
dig and over winter in a basement or protected area, or treat the
plants as annuals.
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Before
harvesting pumpkins and winter squash for storage, be sure to let them
fully ripen. They will last the longest if permitted to do
so. Do not let them freeze. This is also true for gourds.
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Herbs
such as parsley will do better if potted and relocated to a cold
frame, cool cellar or greenhouse.
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In
the southern United States, now is the time to plant late
turnips. Parsley and spinach can also be sown now for spring
harvest.
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In
areas of the garden that you will be putting to rest for winter, now
is the time to plant a cover crop like annual ryegrass. Prepare
the soil working in manure, mulches, compost, etc. The cover
crop will become established now, provide soil stability over the
winter, and turned in for humus in the spring.
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Before
putting your tools away for the winter, clean, sharpen, and wipe with
a light coat of oil. Gas powered implements (mowers, tillers,
chippers, etc.) should be prepared per their owners manuals.
In
the Flower Garden
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Bachelor
Button seeds can be sown now.
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Harvest
Strawflowers or everlastings now as the buds begin to open. Hang
them in loose bundles, head down, for a few weeks or until thoroughly
dry.
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Poppy
seeds can be planted now for Spring bloom.
Trees &
Shrubs
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September is
generally a good time of year to plant.
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Trim
deciduous hedges for the last time early this month.
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Clean
beds, gardens, and lawns of debris. Remove leaves as they
accumulate and compost.
Other
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