When it comes to fall and winter gardening, there are typically three approaches: mine – which is to do nothing, the all-out gardener, and the prepper.
We’ve already established that you shouldn’t listen to me, so I asked Doc what he suggested for a fall garden.
While plenty of people are buying seed for a fall garden – onions, garlic, turnips, mustard, kale, radish, and beets – he prefers to keep it simple.
“The only thing I grow is one row of garlic.” I assumed it was to keep vampires away, but I was wrong. “The rest of my garden is cover crop.”
What is cover cropping?
Cover cropping is a sustainability technique that uses plants to slow erosion, improve soil quality, and keep weeds and pests under control.
Wheat, Elbon rye, oats, clovers, and vetech are all suitable cover crops, but Doc prefers to use Elbon rye after coming across some research that suggested the Eblon rye root structure can kill nematodes.
HOLD UP! What are nematodes?
Nematodes are worm-like parasites that feed on fungi, bacteria, and other microscopic critters, which explains why they live in soil. Most are harmless, but some species bore into plant root systems and feed on the surface of plants, making them a nuisance for the backyard gardener.
The cover crop is easy to maintain and can be mowed when it reaches 6-8 inches in height. By using a cover crop, you are feeding your soil good, green manure that can be tilled into your beds a month or so before planting for spring to give it time to decompose.
Doc never explained the garlic. I’m sticking with my vampire theory. Doc Sorge: full-time gardener, part-time vampire slayer.
Other seeds folks are buying for their fall and winter gardens:
- Collards
- Cabbage
- Broccoli Cauliflower
- Spinach
- Lettuce
Are you a gardening novice or an old pro looking for some fresh tips? We’d love to hear from you. Send your gardening questions to Ryanne Harper at rharpercoop@gmail.com, and we’ll get you some answers!
Contributors: Doc Sorge and Ryanne Harper