Read about the things I’m doing and preparing for fall on our homestead garden.
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Even though it’s only July, I’m already thinking about the list of things that need to be done to wrap up the main growing season for this year. This includes preparing beds for winter, cover cropping, and any last succession planting.
succession planting
What is succession planting, you may ask? This is where multiple groups of a crop are planted right after one another, allowing you to yield a greater harvest compared to one planting. This can be a great tool not only to increase the amount of food you’re able to get, but also to improve soil health. Crops can be rotated to maintain soil nutrient health, and planting immediately following a harvest helps to keep soil planted.
how do I know what/when I can succession plant?
A few things to consider when planning out succession planting are the length of growing time, weather, and your goals for food storage/consumption. Do you have enough time to grow another round? Is your climate conducive at this point in the season to grow another succession? You may also find it helpful to research how certain crops do within your USDA Hardiness Zone in order to get a better idea of when to plant things.
This is something that may be better planned before a season starts. Sitting down and evaluating your goals for your homestead garden along with what’s feasible can go a long way in making the growing season more manageable.
Again, Seedtime is a great tool to use for this kind of planning. It allows you to see the amount of time it will take to see a crop from seed to harvest and plan successions, among other things. You can also use this tool to outline what crops are going where, when. Overall, this tool is extremely helpful for getting a good timeline on growing.
cover cropping
Cover cropping is the act of planting something to keep your soil covered in between productive growing seasons. Keeping something planted at all times is one way to promote soil health. It also can help eliminate weeds and difficulty starting your garden the following season.
I am beginning to think about what I want to cover crop and where I want to plant it. My goal is to have this ready by the time the first of my crops are ready to terminate so that I can sow right away. I plan to leave the terminated organic matter right on the soil to decompose and act as a light mulch.
The Living Soil Handbook by Jesse Frost is a great resource to learn about soil health as it relates to gardening. There is an entire section on cover cropping that is a great beginner introduction to the subject. I knew absolutely nothing about this topic but after reading this book, I feel confident enough to try it out myself. There are various kinds and methods of cover cropping that may meet different needs in your garden, so I recommend doing some further reading if this is something you plan to try.
preparing for the off season
Lastly, I am beginning to think about preparing both my raised and in ground beds for winter. The raised beds that are able to be moved will go inside of our outbuilding, but the in ground and larger ground raised beds will be need to be prepared for winter. This means cover crops, thick mulches, and a good final weeding. I also plan to give our cedar raised bed a coat of sealant in preparation for our 5b winter.
Fall is also an excellent time to reflect on your homestead’s successes and challenges. Consider starting a garden journal to keep track of things that worked well this growing season and what didn’t. We can often forget when it comes time to start next year’s garden what worked in the past season. Learn from your successes and mistakes by keeping track of it at the end of the growing season.
You may also consider starting to plan your layout and crop list for the next year. While cleaning up and finishing this year’s garden, take some time to begin thoughts for next year’s garden. Again, this can be easier when you have your current setup right in front of you. Check out my posts on homestead planning, including this one on how to organize your layout!
Last, think about what educational opportunities you can take advantage of in the offseason. The slower, quiet months of winter can be an excellent time to learn new skills and expand your homestead garden knowledge.
final thoughts on preparing for fall
Although it’s still summer, it’s never too early to get planning for the next season! Getting ready ahead of time for chaotic spring and fall seasons on a homestead garden can really help you feel prepared and make a high workload manageable. Preparing your homestead for fall involves a blend of harvesting, cleaning up, planting, and planning for the seasons ahead. By taking proactive steps now, you’ll ensure a productive homestead and a smoother transition into winter. Embrace the rhythms of the changing seasons and enjoy the rewards of your hard work as you prepare your homestead for the fall. Happy homesteading!
