It’s been a wonderful autumn here at the farm, one of the most beautiful I can remember. But goodness! November is passing all too quickly, wouldn’t you agree? It’s almost over!
It’s hard to believe that Daylight Savings Time has ended. There’s less time for the garden as evening draws nearer and nearer each day. I have to say, it’s a bittersweet time for a flower farmer and gardener, particularly after a full, busy year!
We’ve already been prepping for the upcoming growing season. Afterall, when living the life of a flower farmer, you have to plan ahead.
But before we leave November, there are a few garden chores we must finish to ready ourselves for winter.
First and foremost, don’t wait until the last minute to perform these tasks. Procrastinating will only put more stress on you, and it may cause losses.
Many of the duties performed in October also apply to November. Ultimately, it depends on what zone you’re gardening in.
- Seed cool flowers. This is something we’ve already done here at the farm.
- Continue to plant until the ground freezes. November is often the perfect time for planting shrubs, trees and spring-flowering bulbs. You can never have too many early-blooming spring flowers.
- Move pre-sprouted flowers like ranunculus and anemones into a high tunnel or greenhouse, and establish the growing area before winter sets in.
- Add pine needles to the base of your strawberry plants.
- Mulch tender plants.
- Sow a cover crop—and do it as soon as possible. This will give your soil the nutrients it needs for your spring crop. Do some research first to determine which cover crop fits your area and your particular needs.
- Continue cleaning your garden but leave seed heads for the birds to feed on throughout the winter.
- Add plant debris to your compost, but make sure what you’re adding is not diseased.
- Continue to weed when feasible. This will make gardening more enjoyable come spring.
- Use cold days to take photos and make notes of spaces throughout your garden and field where you might want to do something new. This will help you plan.
- Walk around your garden and field and identify areas that may be too wet. If soil is too wet, you may need to amend the soil or move plants to a better location. Determine what your best plan of action should be for next year.
Happy Gardening!
Pamela Anthony
Beehind Thyme Farm & Garden