It’s been frosty most of these late October mornings. Icy tipped lawns, warming up cars before heading to work, scraping those windshields…alas, it feels more like Fall!
The veggie garden is just about put to bed at my house. The parsley is still thriving; what a cold-hardy plant! My aunt is known to put a bucket over her parsley when snow is threatening, so she can keep using it in the kitchen long after the snow begins to fall. My mojito mint is also running rampant in the garden…I should have known better to put it in the veggie bed–mint grows like a weed! But, I’ll be harvesting a good chunk for drying; it’s good to have mint tea around in the winter.
Surprise, surprise, I have yet to plant my garlic and Fall flower bulbs (back strains can really put a damper on yard work). Still, I have plenty of time to get those bulbs in the ground. I’ve planted in late December before. As long as the ground is workable, it is doable. If you’re looking for Fall flower bulbs, stop by the store! Though unfortunately, we have sold out of garlic.
Other upcoming to-dos in the garden: winter maintenance for strawberries! If you have strawberry plants, get ready to mulch those babies in! After several good frosts, typically after Thanksgiving, be sure to pick a thick layer of straw on top of your strawberries–about 6” deep. The straw helps to keep your plants protected from freezing temperatures, and helps keep deer from finding a leafy snack. Be sure to leave the straw till late April/early May to protect plants and blossoms from getting nipped during springtime frosts. No blossoms, no berries! Also, be sure to use straw, not hay. Hay makes atrocious weeds in the garden, and isn’t nearly as good at insulating as straw. If you’re looking for more information on planting and maintenance for strawberries, you can download our guide here. Garlic is another plant you will want to mulch in with straw as well, but wait until late November into December to lay it down.
Next on my to-do list is to cut back my grape vines. It’s a simple enough task, and I like to use the old grape vines to make autumnal wreaths! I love a good craft. Last year, I made a crescent moon wreath for Halloween. Don’t have grape vines? If you have the invasive pest, bittersweet, these are also handy for making wreaths–plus it helps to get rid of this overwhelming annoyance. Also to prepare for winter: if you have leafy evergreens, like rhododendrons, you might consider applying an anti-dessicant spray like Wilt-Pruf, to help protect these woody plants from winter injury. Anti-dessicants allow the plant to retain its moisture that it would otherwise lose from harsh winter winds and bright snow reflection. Winter injury has become a very common problem in the area, and late November is a good time for a first application of an anti-dessicant. If you spray, be sure to allow 6 hours for spray to dry (be sure we are above freezing during this time).
One last yard work to-do: if you want to give your lawn a head start for the spring, consider applying a winterizing fertilizer. November is a great time to apply it! Are you worried you missed your opportunity to seed your lawn? Allow me to set you at ease. You can absolutely still seed and do patchwork in your lawn. It’s okay that you’re not in the ideal time frame to plant. This time of year, it will simply take longer for germination because the days are shorter. I prefer to seed in the Fall rather than the Spring–especially if you intend to use any kind of weed preventer next year.
Enough of to-dos! Around the yard and in the nearby woods, animals are a’flurry with activity! The coyotes are howling and singing up a storm in the night. I’m very glad to have these predators around, though I am sure to be loud when taking my pups out in the evening (and always on leash in the dark). A gray fox ran in front of me while on a walk with the pups as well. The migratory birds are flying in and out–my favorite, the dark-eyed junco has returned for the winter! Chippies and squirrels are a nuisance for many this time of year. Rodents like to find a cozy place to overwinter, so be aware that there may be more attempts for them to move into your home (if you’re looking for advice for this issue, come on by the store). Also, SO many stinkbugs around. I can’t stand them. There isn’t a great way to prevent them from coming inside. I simply catch them and throw them outside.
Moving on to what’s blooming…as you can imagine, not too much is flowering now. My sedums are turning dry and dark as they pass, but still beautiful. My monkshood, on the other hand, is absolutely thriving right now! It’s very cool to see these bell-shaped purple flowers popping up, as everything else becomes a bit bare. Another shout out: my strawflowers! True, the plant itself has passed by, however, I cut my flowers for a bouquet about a month ago. These flowers are still looking beautiful in their little vase. I’m just so impressed. Definitely more strawflowers will be grown next year!
If you couldn’t tell, at Nashua Farmers’ Exchange, we always have our minds in the garden. Always thinking about next season. So, perhaps it won’t surprise you to know that we already have our 2027 garden seeds in stock from Hart’s Seeds, Renee’s Garden, and High Mowing Organics! Grab seeds early and get just what you’re looking for (or grab a packet or two for an awesome holiday stocking stuffer!).
Until next month, a most happy Halloween and Samhain! Enjoy your pumpkins and squash, fill up on the beauty of blooming chrysanthemums and the last of our stunning foliage, explore your local nature during this time of change (be aware of ticks, there are a lot of them out right now!).
Kate Ratta is the manager of the local feed store Nashua Farmers' Exchange, Inc. She has more than 10 years of experience working in the business owned by her aunt and uncle, Judy Ratta-Harrington and Gene Harrington, and will be contributing weekly garden reports. The store is located at 38½ Bridge Street in Nashua in the converted Boston & Maine and Concord Railroad station.
