Winter might seem like the end of gardening season for many, but it doesn’t have to be that way.Off-season and indoor gardening can be a lifesaver for garden enthusiasts like us when winter rolls in and outdoor gardening slows down. While you might be ready for a break after a busy season, it's still tough to stop growing for months on end during winter. But, with the following six methods, you can keep growing even after the season ends. No need to stow away your garden gear just yet! 1. Sprouting: This involves soaking seeds (like alfalfa, herbs, broccoli, clover, radish, peas, lentils, cabbage) to activate them, and then allowing them to grow just enough to get some stem length. They are highly nutritious and can be used in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes.2. Microgreens: This is a similar method to sprouting, but it is taken one step further. Microgreens can be grown in soil or hydroponically, with seeds sprouting and growing for about a week before they are harvested and used in various dishes. My favorites are sunflower and pea, but kale, lettuce, and herb mixes are popular, too. 3. Overwintering Plants: This involves taking mature plants, or ones close enough to maturity to survive, and providing them with the shelter or protection they need to make it through the wintertime. This is suitable for plants like kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and even peppers and tomatoes in some climates. 4. Flower Bulbs: To keep flowers indoors over winter, try this method of planting flower bulbs indoors by replicating outdoor growing conditions. It allows you to have indoor blooms during the winter. It's called forcing, and you can grow the bulbs in water or soil. 5. Winter Sowing: This method involves sowing seeds outside before the typical planting time. Seeds are placed outside in a plastic gallon jug which acts as a mini-greenhouse, protecting the seeds from frost until the weather warms up.6. Standard Indoor Gardening: This method can range from a simple herb kit on your windowsill to a temperature-controlled germination chamber with lights. This is a more involved system that requires monitoring humidity, pests, and lights.Which one will you try?📩 Questions? Email me at [email protected]💻 Website and Blog: Homegrown Food and Flowers📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homegrownfoodandflowers/

Today, we're diving into the topic of preparing your garden for the upcoming winter season. While it's still September, it's never too early to start planning and taking action to ensure your garden thrives in the colder months. So, let's explore five important tips to get your garden winter-ready.Tip #1: Tidy Up Your Garden (But not too much)Remember last week when we discussed the summer slowdown in your flower garden and how to manage your plants? Well, this idea is quite similar. The key here is to tidy up your garden but in a minimalist way. Consider leaving as many plants behind as possible to provide food for birds, insects, and wildlife during the winter. Flowers, especially those with seed heads, become valuable food sources for birds. Even plants like cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes can serve a purpose in the garden by feeding wildlife during the colder months. Don't forget about perennials like black-eyed Susans and coneflowers; these are no-brainers to leave behind.Tip #2: Protect Tender PlantsIf you have tender plants, veggies, or perennials you'd like to overwinter, it's time to think about how to protect them. Options include using low tunnels, row covers, cold frames, or simply mulching heavily around the plants. You can even create a protective barrier with leaves or bubble wrap for potted plants. Be creative and adapt your approach based on your garden's specific needs and your local climate.Tip #3: Garden Infrastructure CheckEnsure you have the necessary garden infrastructure in place for the winter. This includes taking down trellises that aren't needed, securing trellises and arbors to withstand potential windstorms, and draining and storing hoses to prevent damage from freezing. Don't forget to store your garden tools properly, out of wet and rainy weather, to keep them in good condition.Tip #4: Work on Your SoilGetting your soil ready for winter is crucial. If you're not a fan of tilling, consider using a no-dig or no-till approach. This involves adding layers of organic matter like straw, compost, leaves, or cardboard to build up your garden beds. The layers break down over the winter, improving soil fertility and structure. Alternatively, experiment with cover crops to enhance soil health and prevent erosion. Take advantage of the downtime to build and nourish your soil.Tip #5: Plan for Next YearLastly, start thinking about next year's garden season. Reflect on this year's successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Keep comprehensive garden records to help you plan. Consider aspects like plant selection, garden layout, planting schedules, and strategies to avoid past mistakes. Garden planning is an excellent way to beat the winter blues and stay motivated for the upcoming growing season.Email questions to me: [email protected]📩 Questions? Email me at [email protected]💻 Website and Blog: Homegrown Food and Flowers📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homegrownfoodandflowers/

Today we're talking about how to end the season in your flower garden with as much beneficial impact as possible.While it may be tempting to clean up and clear out, there are some steps you can take to ensure a smoother transition into the next gardening season.Saving SeedsAs your flowers continue to bloom, it's an excellent time to start saving seeds. Focus on flowers with larger seed heads, such as sunflowers, cosmos, nasturtiums, and zinnias. Saving seeds from these plants can be an easy and cost-effective way to cultivate your garden in the future.Drying and Pressing FlowersWhile you're in the garden, look for flowers that are still in good shape and consider drying or pressing them for later use. Dried flowers can be used for winter crafts and arrangements or even for decorating pumpkins. Flowers like straw flowers, yarrow, Scabiosa, and plume celosia are particularly suitable for drying.Soil Health and Weed PreventionInstead of clearing your garden entirely, consider leaving some flowers behind. This has several benefits. Firstly, the seed heads left behind will provide food for birds throughout the winter. Overwintering beneficial insects, like ladybugs and some bees, can also find shelter in the plant debris. While there may be some less desirable insects as well, it's a trade-off that can help your garden's ecosystem. Leaving plant matter behind also contributes to soil health by adding organic matter, which feeds soil microorganisms. Moreover, it prevents weed growth and minimizes erosion over the winter.Composting FlowersComposting is an excellent way to dispose of most flower debris. However, be cautious with plants like morning glory, which can be invasive due to their ability to regenerate from small segments of their roots. When composting, consider chopping up larger items like sunflower stalks to speed up decomposition. If you have diseased plants, it's up to your discretion whether to include them in the compost pile, as there is some debate on whether certain diseases can survive cold composting.What's NextTo sum it up, don't rush to clear out your garden at the end of the season. Instead, consider saving seeds, drying flowers, and leaving some plants behind to benefit wildlife and soil health. If you need to dispose of plant debris, composting is the way to go, with a few exceptions. As always, thank you for tuning in, and we'll be back next week with more tips on preparing your garden for winter. Until then, happy gardening!Email questions to me: [email protected]📩 Questions? Email me at [email protected]💻 Website and Blog: Homegrown Food and Flowers📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homegrownfoodandflowers/

I'm back with another episode to help you maximize your gardening joy and productivity. In this episode, I'm helping you know what to do in your garden this month of September.   Here are the main points of this episode:1. Maintaining your September garden:Your summer garden might be winding down, but there's still plenty to do. From managing powdery mildew to (still) providing water for birds and bugs, we went through a comprehensive checklist to keep your garden thriving. 2. Fall gardening:As the air gets crisper, it's time to explore the opportunities fall gardening offers. It's not too late to plant many cold-hardy and fast maturing crops. If you need ideas, jump back to this episode: 016: Why You Should Start A Fall Garden (Yes, In August).3. Season extension:Who says you can't garden in the winter? From using a basic low tunnel to thinking about what microgreens, herbs, or sprouts you can grow indoors, there's still something to grow in the dead of winter without investing in grow lights.4. Organic gardening tips:This is a crucial time for organic gardening. We talked about managing diseases like powdery mildew, providing water sources for our bird friends, and managing pests in your garden.5. Planning for your indoor winter garden: Start thinking about how you want to bring your garden indoors this winter. This can include growing sprouts, microgreens, forcing flower bulbs, and even growing culinary mushrooms. Remember, gardening is all about finding joy in nature. So take a moment to put your feet in the grass, your hands in the dirt, and enjoy your time in the garden.Until next week, happy gardening!📩 Questions? Email me at [email protected]💻 Website and Blog: Homegrown Food and Flowers📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homegrownfoodandflowers/

Are you a novice gardener ready to shake off the jitters and dive into the world of gardening? Or perhaps you're a seasoned grower looking to enhance your green thumb skills. No matter where you stand, I believe that every gardening enthusiast can find a place in the Gardener Success Timeline I’m about to share with you.From the excitement of a novice to the proficiency of a master, the journey through gardening can be an exhilarating ride. It's a timeline I've drawn up from my own years of gardening experience and interactions with gardeners at all levels. Here’s an overview of the four phases in this timeline, with more details and tips in the episode.1. The Gardening Newbie: In this initial phase, you might feel overwhelmed, unsure about what and when to plant. If this is you, fret not. Start by thinking about what you want to grow based on your personal preferences and then consider your budget, time, and space. Gardening, like any other skill, begins small and grows from there. Don't be afraid of making mistakes and remember that every expert was once a beginner.2. The Growing Enthusiast:In this phase, you are no longer a complete beginner. You've had some success, made some mistakes, but most importantly, you're learning. This is the time to experiment with seed starting and getting more familiar with your local climate. You can also start developing routines for regular watering, mulching, weeding, and staking. Keeping a record of your experiences can be beneficial for your future gardening endeavors.3. The Confident Grower: Here, you've grown confident in your gardening skills. You're starting to get familiar with seed starting and learning how to extend or manipulate the season using shade cloth or misting. You might even start exploring composting and on-site fertilization. You're starting to keep records of your planting dates, pests, and diseases, among other things. This phase involves more strategic planning and advanced techniques.4. The Green Thumb Pro:Finally, you've arrived at a stage where you're comfortable with your gardening knowledge and experience. You have a firm grasp of your local climate and have a well-established composting system. You're preserving your harvest and even mentoring new gardeners. You are a part of the local gardening community, continually honing your skills, and always ready to adapt to the surprises nature may throw at you.Remember, it's not about rushing through these phases. Each stage comes with its unique set of challenges and triumphs. Embrace the process, learn from your mistakes, and celebrate your victories. No matter where you are in your gardening journey, keep growing, one seed at a time!It's not too late to squeeze in the last of your fall plantings! Not sure what to start? ⬇️ Get your Fall Garden Planting Chart to know exactly when to start seeds for your next phase of the gardening year.📩 Questions? Email me at [email protected]💻 Website and Blog: Homegrown Food and Flowers📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homegrownfoodandflowers/