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Vegetable Gardening Hints, Issue #010 -- Your October to do list and more.
October 04, 2008
Hello,

Pumpkins are ripening and ready to be cut into Jack o Lanterns. Fresh veggies should still be coming in from your garden.

YOUR OCTOBER TO DO LIST

  • Picking pumpkins and squash.
    Do not pick pumpkins before they are completely orange. If picked too soon, they will not ripen fully. When you cut your pumpkin always leave about 3-5 inches of the stem attached. The best place to store your pumpkin is in the garage.

    Leave your winter squash to mature on the vine. Once they are picked they will not ripen any further. How do you know when the squash is mature? Know what color your variety should be when it is mature. Many green varieties have some brown or bronze on them when they are ripe,

  • Keep harvesting.
    Harvest when your veggies are ripe. Eat, can or freeze them as soon as you can. Check my tips for storing your veggies.

  • Add compost to your garden beds.
    The purpose of composting plant debris is to reduce it to a condition that can be easily handled and worked into the soil. Composting is the breakdown of plant material by soil bacteria, fungi and other organisms. Learn more about making compost .

  • Garden clean up.
    Now is the time to start cleaning up your garden. If you leave diseased plants in your garden over winter you will just be dealing with more problems in the spring. Now is also the time to turn in any organic mulch you put out over the summer into any clean garden beds. By turning it under now it will have time to decompose further adding organic matter to the soil.

  • Want to make your garden larger?.
    If you want to make your garden space larger now is the time to turn over that soil. Learn more about soil preparation .

  • " My 2009 Vegetable Garden Journal "is now available.
    It is a simple to follow book that will help you stay organized and give you all the information you need to have a successful vegetable garden.

    In the book you will find:

    • A monthly calender with the best dates to plant.
    • Month at a glance to do list to guide you.
    • Easy to follow planting, growing and harvesting information for 25 common vegetables.
    • Tips on watering, fertilizing, mulching and pest management.

    Ready to read more? click here.

    VEGETABLE OF THE MONTH

    Garlic


    Here are my tips for growing great garlic:

    • The soil should be loose and fertilized with compost.
    • Garlic produces a group of cloves. Separate the cloves for planting. The larger outer cloves produce the best garlic.
    • Plant them in rows 12 to 24 inches apart.
    • Set the cloves 5 to 6 inches apart and then 1 to 2 inches deep.
    • In the south and southwest garlic can be planted now and into January.


    Keep harvesting and enjoying your fall vegetables. Take the time to can and store for the winter months.

    Check in with www.your-vegetable-gardening-helper.com for the simplest steps to having your own vegetables. I have several helpful ebooks that will provide you with easy to follow tips to have an even more successful vegetable garden next season, check them out.

    Please contact me with your comments and suggestions.

    If you have enjoyed this ezine please tell a friend.

    Welcome to the world of vegetable gardening!

    Catherine
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