Fall Vegetable Garden Cleanup and Winterization

[@ceedee2570]

I really like how you qualify when you speaking about your specific conditions and saying things like "this works for me." So many youtubers speak in terms of everyone sharing their climate and it can be confusing.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you! I try to remember to do that- there are just SO many things in gardening that are specific to one's growing conditions/soil/microclimate- and what works well in one area may not work well in another.

[@Alpha1Farms]

As always great info! Leaves do make quite the impenetrable blanket when layered. If I had a recommendation, feed your chickens at the chopped leaf pile. Allow them to stir it and manure it. Keep rebuilding the pile and let them tear it down. I’m sure you can immediately understand the benefits.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

This is a great idea- thank you!

[@gendeb9666]

I am in west central Ohio. Love your videos because they are so pertinent to me❤

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Wonderful to hear from a fellow Ohioan!

[@HoosierBenzo]

So glad you mentioned Dan Kittredge and the Bionutrient Food Association! I’ve been supporting the BFA (non-profit) for years, ever since I found Dan’s ‘Principles of Biological Systems’ videos on KZbin. This guy is on the level!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Oh how cool! Have you heard about (or maybe even tested) the bionutrient meter yet? I heard him talk about it at ACRES when it was still just a prototype but I've not actually seen it in person.

[@HoosierBenzo]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Yeah, the meter has been the main reason for my financial support! This could be an absolute game-changer. I haven’t tested or seen one in person yet. You can check out the BFA annual Soil & Nutrition conference videos on KZbin to get the latest progress on the meter.

[@soulscry8697]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Jenna, sadly its no longer for sale on their website. Wonder if the FDA thugs got to them. Very frustrating.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

@@soulscry8697 Oh that is extremely disappointing. I hope that's not what happened, but can definitely see that being the case.

[@jamestyrer6067]

THANKS FOR THIS INFORMATION 👍 CHOPPED LEAVES IS THE WAY TO GO 👍

[@generalchemistrywithmike]

For this warm spell, I have spent the last two and a half days chopping up leaves with a leaf blower/sucker and mixing the chopped leaves with coffee grounds from starbucks. My body is thankful that the rain came because I was working my butt off all day chopping the leaves. But, I learned that leaf lesson last year as well. No more unchopped leaves for me unless they are in bags and going to sit for a whole year.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You've been keeping busy!!

[@geokando2000]

I used the abundance of leaves in my chicken run. They rummage through and break them down quickly. Sometimes I toss the clean out ( once or twice a year/deep bedding) on compost pile or I top my raised bed and soil bags in the fall to overwinter.

[@juandejesus9355]

Thank You!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You're welcome!

[@boonmsgt]

I clean out my chicken coop into my fall leaves. I turn the compost weekly cover with a tarp to retain heat and keep it moist to help break down. I have two piles going and put fresh stuff in one then move it over to older pile as it decomposes. Always use chickens and working on a chicken Chunnel system for next spring. But if you block off your compost and let the chickens in there they will churn it up.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That's a great idea!

[@JulesGardening]

We have a nice weather break too. Listening to your cast while we work the garden. :)

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad you're enjoying some nice weather- I hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving!

[@wingrider1004]

I confess I am guilty of ignoring my garden once college football season starts. I do clean up, compost and monitor my cover crops. My daughter is raising monstrous collard greens and turnips and kale in our raised beds. The leaf tips were good to know as I too made the same mistake thinking I could just mound them up to the sky.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Haha- I know many other folks that are right there with you on the football!

[@fuubar21]

Excellent Video! I leave in between Dayton & Cincinnati so your videos are always so helpful. I love having these unexpectedly warmer weekends in order to keep cracking away at getting my garden ready for spring next year.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you! I got a little worried when it got so cold, so early. I didn't have much of anything done- so I was glad to see it warm up a little!

[@sutherngirrl7590]

So much great information. Especially with the leaves... You weren't kidding about chickens desecrating the garden! My little raptors are what I call em.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Haha- they ARE little raptors!

[@randyman8984]

As of now I'm getting free leaves from my local city department. they go around and pick them up during the fall, shred them and pile them up but I won't touch them during fall or winter. Late spring or early summer I start going to get them. I fill my truck bed all the way up. By this time they're already half composted and they're so easy spreading and using. I use them as a mulch and it works awesome. They are very dark colored and have a strong tobacco smell. I'm guessing they've been sitting for about 6 months. Using as a mulch like this they will stay put too, without the wind blowing them away. I also added a bunch to my compost to charge it.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Great way to utilize a free resource!

[@wbshappy1]

I don't know about putting leaves in plastic bags and using them for leave mould. I once put a bunch(!) of leaves in a trap and folded it over top, then staked it down. When I uncovered it in the spring, I was expecting compost, and nothing happened! They were just as dry as when I covered them. Following standard composting techniques including chopping, soil contact, mixing in green with browns, dampening, etc, that's the way to go.

[@roygreene2921]

Try planting your potatoes in the fall I've had a lot of luck myself I live in southern Ohio

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I typically throw a few out every fall (usually those that are sprouting from my spring harvest)- but I've found that they are actually slower to mature than my spring planted spuds. Have you noticed that to be the case in your area?

[@roygreene2921]

No I try to plant a long the back of my shed because its in the sun most of the day so I get residual heat at night

[@michelemenard8364]

We have 2 Omlet Cops and runs and they are so easy to clean an move about. One of the best buys that we have made.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm glad to hear you like yours!

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

50's here too. up on roof painting shutters and cleaning gutters. The garden moved into the sunroom already thank God. put in the Siberian garlic and black/red tulip bulbs. waiting another week before planting kale. The compost barrel is full. Can't wait for Spring. Morning Glories. My house was covered with them. Blue!!!! They get moldy in Fall, so i have cut them back to a 5x10' area. I pluck all the other seedlings that never stop coming up. pretty though.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Sounds like you are keeping busy!!

[@KarenCampbell-qh1xt]

Great informative video! Unfortunately I live in the desert and have a hard time finding information that is this good to help me learn what to do so that I can plant in ground instead of everything needing to be in a container or raised bed.

[@michellearmour5033]

Was at the Grandparent's in Eaton today because of the weather prepping for winter ourselves!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Hope you had an enjoyable & productive day!

[@squarebob62]

Thank You for hitting many of the areas of my short-sightedness. There were so many "Oh Yeah" moments in your marvelous presentation. Salute!!!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm glad I could help!

[@MrRKWRIGHT]

Good Sunday morning Jenna. What can I say? These videos just keep getting better and better. But that's of course to be expected from a talented gardener such as yourself. Thanks for sharing a look at your Fall Vegetable Garden Cleanup and Winterization.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you so much! Take care!

[@MrRKWRIGHT]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Jenna - You bet. 😊

[@DRFelGood]

Ah Jenna, Thank you, your spot on with those garden debris clean up tips. I’m encouraged by your knowledge and advice ❤ ✌️

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

You are so welcome!

[@MartinaSchoppe]

As I have basically only perennials, some of the "mistakes" don't quite apply. I never clear out the roots, for excample... I try to leave everything on the beds or I clear one part and then put the stuff in an area, where I need more mulch. I use unshredded leaves. But I'm in a warmer climate zone (7b) and I think the soil live needs time to build up to be able to "eat" the leaves. The first year I mulched with leaves there where heaps left in spring. After a few years of mulching with leaves there is almost nothing left in spring. But it is a good idea to add something "green" to the leave mulch - I add all kinds of weeds, comfrey, grass clippings and this fall, for the first time, horse manure. I also added fresh woodchips on my pathways. That way they can start to decompose, store a lot of water and grow myzelium. No water puddles in the walkways.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Excellent advice, Martina- thank you!

[@MartinaSchoppe]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Thanks 🙂 in "Cleaning up too much, too soon, you mentioned you had that idea from dan Kittridge - can you point me to a specific video or blog post or something - I checkt his youtube channel, and there are MILLIONS 😉🙃ov videos on it and I like to watch them all, too, but would be interessed in that point especially, because I already do that (leaving diseased stuff on the beds or at least in the garden) but I'd love to hear his reasoning 😊 Thanx in advance 🙂

[@breehenson1316]

I never thought about leaving plant residue and roots in the garden, but it does make sense. Thanks for sharing this.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'd definitely encourage you to give it a shot, Bree!

[@ForestHealth]

I was thinking to leave garden as it is till next spring but i'm relatively new in gardening and was unsure. Thank you for mentioning that guy's advice, it very much syncs with me and next year i will follow my intuition. Thank you for another great video!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That garden intuition is always a good thing to follow!

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

i love the walk way idea. nice. you guys are blessed! be well everyone!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you! You too!

[@michaelraymond9274]

I also live in northwest Ohio, and have Clay soil, but most of my beds are raised and I was like you where I clean the garden late fall. But I'm going to try this new way. Thank you for the info.

[@tbone9194]

Here in WNY we had heavy 36 inches of snow, last weekend Nov 2022. One of my tunnels collapsed, the frame all bent, just unbelievable. Kale is underneath and I hope it will survive the rest of the winter. Spinach and lettuce are covered with clear plastic bags on my front porch hoping to get a harvest before the weather turns on us.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Oh no!! I'm sorry to hear your tunnels collapsed- but I hope your greens are OK. Stay safe & warm up there!

[@melissaschloneger9902]

I am trying to figure out my flower placement for spring in relationship with my veg plants to help with pest control/fertilization/companion planting ideas. Also live in Ohio and getting beds set for the winter, cleaning out my flower beds of their leaves and adding that clean out to the mulch bins. And then needing to take ready mulch to the veg beds. So nice in the current weather

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Enjoy the nice weather while it lasts, Melissa! Sounds like you're keeping busy!

[@ronndapagan]

Great video and thank you for sharing these tips about fall clean up .

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@ronndapagan]

@@GrowfullywithJenna you are very welcome.

[@brianseybert2189]

Fall prep for your gardens is crucial. Jumping worms put a definite slow down to it. I did mulch my perennial cover crops of thyme and oregano with double shredded leaves ( to protect them from our below zero temps), although I will remove the leaves, or what is left by the end of May in my zone 5A garden. Normally I cover all my beds with shredded leaves in the fall, but this year I am way more cautious. I do not want to shift your focus of fall garden prep. I am sure there are many more gardeners like myself, with jumping worms that want that advice on how to winterize their gardens. A couple good thing about jumping worms is that, the adults die in winter and the cocoons will not hatch out until soil temps reach into the 50's F. So you can still amend your soils, but you need to remove any heavy mulch before the soil warms up. If you leave a heavy mulch of compost or shredded leaves the jumping worms will devastate it. Jumping worms are spreading like a wildfire, people who garden need to know this and take appropriate precautions.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

This is definitely something gardeners need to be aware of! I encourage folks to check out the videos you've posted, as well reading through the articles that various universities have posted about the identification and control of jumping worms, such as these: extension.okstate.edu/articles/2022/jumping_worms.html and extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/keep-eye-out-invasive-jumping-worms-garden

[@brianseybert2189]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Thank You Jenna for aiding in informing people about jumping worms. Hope you never have to deal with them.

[@davidaleshire4292]

Most of the debris this year went into a trench that was the start to a hugel bed. There is a nice carpet of leaves on the garden now, but as soon as I get the chance they will get pulled up into mounds for the winter. The mulch mat of grass clippings will get added to the piles. I’m starting to wish that I’d left the squash and pumpkin vines to decompose. Wonder if I could talk squirrels into doing all of the scratching and digging that chickens do, since the only poultry I have is in the freezer and waiting for marinade.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That's exactly where mine ended up last year. I don't have an open trench here right now- but am working on some at my parent's farm. If you manage to talk your squirrels into that, let me know. I've got an awful lot of them around here too!

[@wblack751]

Numbers 3 and 4 I'm just figuring out after all these years !!!!! Always got free leaf mulch from a local township which was great because it was already half broke down and I could till it in in the fall but it is no longer available. This is my first year of prepping my beds for spring crops. I tilled some shredded leaves and compost in last week and have rye going in the rest of the garden. I wish I would have hilled my rows but it should be ok. I'm in 6b and also have trouble getting my spring crop out in time. Have you ever tried over wintering seeds like beets or onions? I tried it with beets once and had some success. Thanks again for another great video, You'll make a gardener out of me yet !!!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

It's taken me a while to figure them out too! I've not overwintered beets- but typically try to time them out so I'm harvesting in December or January. Onions I do overwinter (both green and bulb onions) and it works really well- I share my process in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmfIZHuCZb17gtE I also did a test of different bulb onion varieties for overwintering and found that the variety T-448 performed the best for me. Here are a few of the other veggies I overwinter as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/faDEZXmqnLp5rLM

[@wingrider1004]

The main thing I have to add to my soil this time of year is a boost in nitrogen...good video, and I love the use of the chicken terminators - they WILL clean up an area! Thank you, Mrs. J...keep up the good work. As you have shown, work in the garden never ends! And yet is ever rewarding...🙂

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Spot on- it never ends! But yes, it's incredibly rewarding!

[@jerryleopold1430]

Thanks again Lady! Always enjoy your cheerful disposition during your presentations. I'm still making the best of a 1/8acre. You are so lucky to have the elbow room! Keep up the good work! Always informative.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you, Jerry! I am fortunate to have plenty of room-- but love to hear that you're utilizing the space you do have. Take care!

[@smhollanshead]

My fall garden shut down: clear the beds of weeds and debris; fertilize with NPK, magnesium and calcium; add saturated alfalfa pellets; add a layer of straw and a layer of cut grass. Lastly, I fertilize the top of the bed with a slow release 90 day lawn fertilizer. After you’ve covered the garden bed with straw and grass, it’s a good idea to water the bed. The water causes the straw and grass clippings to stick to the garden bed. Otherwise the straw and grass clippings blow away.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jturie]

It's nearly December and my post-gardening procrastination is rearing its ugly head. I need to get out there and prep for sure. Great advice as always....except for the chickens (don't have any) :)

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I was procrastinating too- then we got an early wicked cold spell and it kind of shocked me into doing my prep work!

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

also, i bought a small disc harrow for like $150 to tow on my Cub Cadet. tares right through sod to make new beds. cheap, time saving, easy to use accessory. FYI. oh, and two cement blocks.......

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Great deal!

[@sandram5664]

Hi Jenna. Great ideas here! Like you, I’m now leaving plant residues and any living plants stay in my garden and am putting on a thick mulch until it’s time for spring planting. It was only a few years ago that my fall clean up would leave each bed as a clean slate for spring, and I mean barren as in no plant residue and no mulch, just bare soil! Eek! I’m also now learning more about using cover crops as well. My only struggle now is holding back my husband from cleaning up the flower beds too early. (I remember watching Dan Kittredge on the Living Web Farm KZbin channel, which has so many great presentations.)

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

It's a hard habit to break when you're used to the look of a 'clean slate'. I still struggle with it! But after seeing the improvements in my soil, it's worth it!

[@johnjude2685]

Chickens are the wildest domestic animal on most farms and generations ago were from TREX family tree . You hubby helps in the garden he's a keeper. I mix the garden waste and adding that with leaves and grass clipping and I have a 3 to 4.spread on my tomato and pepper in ground beds (.yeah much like yours but I did improve the drainage as you teaching .I also Ohio clay base soil) I leaving roots ingrown several years now. No tilting for 3 years but planning to tilt my melon area just to much weeds. Thank and going with your worm casting and micorizomes for seed starting. Thanks

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

One can certainly see the resemblance they have to dinosaurs! And yes- hubby is definitely a keeper, he's not big into gardening himself, but does anything I need him to. Can't wait to hear how your garden does this coming year John!

[@johnjude2685]

I've tried 5 methods and the one most like your was my old ways but I'm pretty much no tilt now and much more mulch and you got me drainage improvement. But second place for my tomato methods is planting tomato seedlings into a sunflower root pile from the season before and it is easiest ever old folks easy .This I wish you would test. You Tube Gardener. " I am a Organic Gardener " a man named Mark showed on one of his videos. I say you could have your mom test it.But I'm 71 and had surgery for hernia last spring so I planted the garden so should be a good test for easy gardening. Thanks hopefully my tomato are going to peek next season. Thanks

[@barryganslein986]

It was a beautiful day here in N.E. Ohio.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Hope you were able to enjoy it!

[@Heru1980]

I really appreciate your videos- very helpful for me because I see you have to deal with many of the same gardening issues, especially your growing zone, and heavy, compacted clay soil. Oh sure, it's easy to give gardening advice when you live in a mild climate and have rich loamy soil! ;)

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you! And I agree- where's the challenge when you already have great soil and climate 😆?

[@ThomasWBaldwin]

my spidy senses say the boy has an ATV! all my kids had them. still have a couple in the garage.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Haha- he does, and he loves that thing!

[@GroLeafy]

I love your videos Jenna. You are a wealth of knowledge. I have learned that we grow from our mistakes. How long have you been gardening? I am on my 3rd year in this journey. I’ve made lots of mistakes but I’m learning through them.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you so much. I've been gardening since I was about 5 years old 😄. But 'seriously' gardening on my own property- about 20 years.

[@GroLeafy]

@@GrowfullywithJenna WOW

[@mekkiz_]

That cracked me up when he had the dirtbike helmet on, those chicks don’t play haha

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

😂

[@PharMamaUSA]

Very helpful info. I love your content, relevant to me here in Boston. Thank you!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you!

[@teemmm538]

Thank you. I have learned so much

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'm so glad!

[@jenniferowens3756]

We have very similar gardening styles. I try to leave a lot of plant debris in the garden as well, but asparagus and squash debris gets burned. I don’t need any more squash vine borers! Thanks for the tip on the nutrient density info, that’s very interesting and I will check it out.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Ugh- I hear you on the squash vine borers!! They've become a HUGE problem for me too!

[@MrMrsG06]

I've been hearing more about beneficial nematodes, I believe there's one that targets squash vine borers

[@tinasmith9998]

This technically does not count as prep, but I planted fava beans this fall. My hope is that I will get a jump on the season. I am In Zone 6 Canada and I normally plant my Favas in March / April.

[@sandram5664]

Please do report back on how they did for you. I am in zone 6 in the US but I could never get them to survive the winter. 😕

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I'd also love to hear how these do for you!

[@johnjude2685]

I've got corn stalks this season and goings to run them thew my mulcher within days And there root ball will be left in location hopeful not disturb I've done my pepper patch and corn next Thanks 1:38

[@williamaber2791]

Great tips and I'll have to check out the Bionutrient Food Association- thanks

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I hope you do, William!

[@chalicat2]

Well, really glad I didn’t have my husband dump all the leaves on my raised beds this fall. We probably wouldn’t have broken them up enough. I just used some straw mulch I had, instead.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Were you able to keep some of those leaves for compost?

[@chalicat2]

@@GrowfullywithJenna I'm going to say yes, because the whole bottom half of the back yard has not been raked, and I highly doubt my husband will get out there and do it before, oh, April. I'm not doing it. I have a chatty (wedding) ring that says lawn care is done by my husband. I like to maintain the illusion that I'm a princess. 😁

[@mikefrench3800]

Great advice! Pretty bad to use too many leaves myself.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

It's an easy mistake to make!

[@christine9467]

I don’t think I could stand looking at that deadness lol. I’m going to compost it and add leaf mulch all winter. Luckily we won’t get a freeze here until Jan/Feb. I’m going to plant what I can and maybe even plant a few winter flowers.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That's why I've started filling my house full of plants in the winter... it is fairly dreary and depressing here November through March when there's no snow on the ground.

[@richardkostura3474]

Good comments about mucky leaf pile to fix that this year i added a lot of twigs to keep air in the pile I also mooched a lot of coffee grounds from the local convenience store to get the nitrogen levels up Also bought some mushroom manure at a local garden center as theirs has a higher percentage of raw stuff versus the bagged product at the big box stores so far the pile is a lot warmer so i hope it works

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I hope it works well for you!!

[@franksinatra1070]

Another awesome video!! I have a lot of leaves also and have been using them in combination with my greens to make compost for years but I noticed the oaks are very slow to break down even after a year of sitting. So this year I built a separate bin just for leaf mold and piled most of my oaks into it. I'm not planning on having usable leaf mold next year but u have to start some place right?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

That sounds like a great tactic. We've got a small amount of oak, but primarily hickory, and a bit of maple. They might suprise you yet, and break down within a year!

[@danlee4706]

I'm guilty of two of these mistakes. It makes sense to leaving the plant roots in the ground, which I had never done. Too late this year though. The other is not prepping the beds in the Fall. Gonna get out there with the hoe this week and build those mounds before the ground freezes. My guess is that matter will break down faster in my clay soil if it is mounded through the Winter.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

There's always next season 😀. I only learned my lesson about not forming beds in the fall after years of kicking myself in the spring- desperately wanting to plant and not being able to!

[@SH-jy6lc]

Omgosh! So much useful info! Thanks What about the wood chips mulch? Do they deplete nitrogen too?

[@karahall7992]

I have always avoided hay and used straw. Hay can have seeds that lead to weeds.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

It can- but if you're careful with whom you source from it can be a huge asset to the garden!

[@Javaman92]

Excellent as always! I smiled at you dumping all those leaves on your garden in the past. I don't remember where I learned that was a mistake, but it is one that I am aware of. Seeing your garden with all that water on it reminded me of my little garden back at the last place I lived in Ohio. I'm happy to say that I have well drained soil here and my garden is on a slope so I don't have that issue. Even so, I do prep a spot for the early plantings anyway. It just makes it that much easier. I've been using the chop and drop method on my garden for awhile now and it has worked for me. One thing I am doing now that I am not sure is the best idea is I have my compost pile actually IN the corner of the garden. Everything goes in there. We shall see if that causes problems. Any thoughts on that?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you! Silly mistake I know, but I my lesson! Regarding the compost pile- I've actually started doing something similar. My original pile is some 50 feet away from the garden. In the last couple years, I've started a compost pile directly outside my garden fence (bordering in-ground beds and my hugelkultur bed), which is much easier as I can just throw everything directly on to the pile, versus having to cart it across the yard. I've not seen anything negative from doing this- except maybe that the kitchen scraps I throw in can draw critters like raccons. I've also heard from other folks who keep their pile in the garden, with no detrimental effects.

[@Javaman92]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Thank you for that information on people who have put their compost in the garden. My memory suggested that I'd not heard of problems, but these days I tend to ask questions to double check. ;-)

[@sharonpreston2826]

I can't leave everything. I have to look at it. I need to clean and make it look nice. I do leave most roots now. And I mulch everything with seaweed.

[@CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

Amazing information Mrs. Jenna. Love that chicken tractor. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us. Stay safe my friend!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Thank you, CB! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

[@gazellecarlson6543]

it's a challenge to get it all done due to the fact i have a day job. luckily it's part time and I still have trouble getting it done

[@janebo1068]

To bad this video came out so late...... I toped my big beds with 12 inches of whole maple leaves !!!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Hopefully you won't have as much trouble with them as I did!

[@Lochness19]

Prepping garden beds in the fall hasn't really been necessary for me. Sandy soil seems to thaw fairly quickly. This year it thawed all the way down around March 18, which is 5-6 weeks before our last freeze. And it drains fast. Our springs are also somewhat dry, only 2-2.5" per month in March and April, whereas Ohio seems to get almost 4" per month. So I can prep beds in late March/early April and then plant cold season stuff in mid-late April and frost sensitive stuff in mid-late May.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Totally different game on that sandy soil! And yes- once in a while we'll get a relatively dry spring, but it seems more often than not, we get waaay to much rain (and then none in August when we need it).

[@Lochness19]

​@@GrowfullywithJenna Last year we had lots of rain in late summer. Good for some things but also good for mildew and other disease which caused my tomatoes to get late blight in September and die in October almost a month before the first frost. This summer was very dry so I had to water a lot, but my tomatoes all survived deep into fall, past some light frosts and right up to the hard freeze on Nov 14, with little to no sign of late blight. Not only did the more resistant varieties (Midnight Snack, Mountain Merit) have no late blight, which I tried for the first time this year, but neither did the ones that succumbed last year (Pink German, Sweet 100).

[@stephaniekidoodles7655]

This Was helpful

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ramz1455]

The best thing about having a small garden is that is a small clean up haha. Thank you for these tips! I can't wait till spring ugh. Edit: What's your opinion about adding an equal amount of NPK fertilizer unto a bed for fall prep? Think that the fertilizer will just leach down into soil due to the snow melt in the spring?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Very true! And from everything I've read, adding fertilizer in the fall is a waste of money- it just leaches out of the soil. Better to apply in spring. I even thought about intentionally adding a rich nitrogen source to my leaf mulch to hasten breakdown, but have read mixed reports on that as well.

[@ramz1455]

@@GrowfullywithJenna Yeah you make a good point. I was thinking the same, just add fertilizer in the spring when it starts to warm up some. I added a few inches of leaves so that will most likely give the soil an extra boost in nutrients when it comes time to plant.

[@phistashka]

Jenna (or anyone else that can chime in), I’m wondering - if I separate part of my chicken flock into the Eglu to work on the garden, how long can I keep them there without having to reintegrate when I put them back in the main coop? Thank you for your wonderful and informative videos! I have learned so much!

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I've found it depends a lot on the individual chicken and their dynamic within the flock. I kept 2 of my oldest hens (along with our old rooster) separated from the main flock for over 6 months, and when I reintroduced the old hens, they had no trouble at all assimilating back into the flock. But they also seem to be at the higher end of the pecking order. There have been times I’ve had members separated for just a few weeks, and then had just a small amount of in-fighting while they reestablished their ranks. These seems to happen more with the younger members of the flock.

[@gazellecarlson6543]

sweet eggloo

[@JoyoftheGardenandHome]

I need more leaves. How would I prep raised beds for spring?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

I prep my raised beds the same basic way I do my in-ground. I chop off woody material at ground level, leaving the roots in the soil. If I don't get a cover crop planted in time, I add a layer of leaf mulch to cover the soil surface. Also if I have containers of soil I don't plan on reusing next season, I'll dump them in my raised beds, along with nearly finished compost.

[@emkn1479]

Do you find that solarizing helps with overwintering insects? I was hoping to prevent the insane amounts of cucumber beetles etc. we dealt with this year.

[@sbaker3232]

My leaf pile blew away😂

[@amyschmelzer6445]

I put something on top to weigh them down. In the case of my garlic bed that I mulched with leaves, I put some wire fencing over top. The leaves along the edges blow away but most hold still until spring. I also have a compost pile full of leaves. I used wire fencing to make walls and then I set some boards on top to keep most of them from blowing away. I watered the leaves when I added them to the compost pile to speed up the decomposition so they would lock together sooner and not depend on the boards.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Oh no!! I'm sorry to hear that, Luke! I'm honestly shocked the big leaf pile at my parent's farm didn't suffer the same fate. They had a huge wind storm go through several weeks ago. But dad had dumped the leaves up against the edge of the prairie, and I think the tall grasses kept most of them from blowing away.

[@lindag4484]

I had some soil problems this past growing season so, last month, I sent a soil sample to the University of NH. I recently got the results and things don't look too bad. If there was any Grazon residue in the composted cow manure I used last spring, it has leached through, but it seems my raised beds are now nitrogen deficient. The other comment stated that they were, "not able to test for texture class (% sand, silt and clay) because the organic matter content of the soil was too high and there was an insufficient amount of mineral soil." (I guess they mean 'dirt'). Over the years, I have likely added way too many mulched leaves, probably contributing to the frequent nitrogen deficiency. I'm thinking I need to add topsoil, instead of compost, in the spring and fertilize with bone meal and blood meal. Does that make sense? With all the old leaf matter in my garden, would it be beneficial to spread some blood meal now so that it can slowly each down through over the winter, then hit it again in the spring?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Well I'm relieved to hear it's not Grazon (or it's already gone)! I'm curious what your actual % of organic matter was- did they give you that information? I'd definitely lay off the compost & leaves for the time being. If you are certain you have a source of very good quality, uncontaminated topsoil- that might be an option... but I would be hesitant. I've heard too many horror stories lately of folks ended up with contaminated soil. Honestly, my tactic would simply be to provide a small amount of supplemental nitrogen to your plants in the spring and give your soil time to balance out. I've seen mixed reports about adding fertilizer in the fall- by most accounts it will just leach out by spring and then you need to reapply. So it may be a waste of money to add at this point.

[@lindag4484]

@@GrowfullywithJenna In the comments section of the soil sample analysis, it was noted that, "the organic matter content is too high". In the stats, the percentage of organic matter is 28.03%. Eeek! ...and I 'worked-in' mulched leaves the first week of October. In the spring, I may be able to remove any small bunches that were the least broken up by the mulching process. I sincerely thank you for your advice. I've stumbled this year with the manure and too many leaves. I'm determined to 'fast track it' somehow to get my super productive raised beds back next year.

[@shamshersinghfarmernews884]

💚

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

😀

[@raymondwilson9671]

Lo your show ❤❤❤

[@lynnlovessoil]

I started clean up last week but came down with a bad sinus infection. 🙃

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that- I hope you're on the mend!

[@lynnlovessoil]

"Like herding cats" 😆 🤣 😂

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

They really are 😆

[@kyivstuff]

Poulet :3

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

😄

[@SG-ce7ji]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@WS-by5cl]

So- do I need to rake up all the leaves I just put on my garden? 🥺 they were mowed over once and are chopped, perhaps not finely. I kept them only about 2-3” thick.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

No- I don't think there's any reason to remove them. 2-3" thick, even if the leaves were whole, should be fine!

[@andrewanderson6618]

Do you put your corn stalks through a mulching machine

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Nope- that would be ideal, but I don't have mulching machine (though I'd love to have one). They break down after a couple years on the compost pile, or sometimes I put them directly into my hugelkultur.

[@EnuffsEnuff318]

Can you explain the tattoos on your wrists?

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

Just my lucky numbers 😉

[@teemmm538]

Ohio😂😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤❤

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

😁

[@onlydreams719]

That tractor wouldn’t cover our garden.

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

The chicken tractor? I don't typically have them do the entire garden, but work at problem areas (or just get as much done as they can before the ground freezes). Every little bit helps!

[@CrypticSkies0]

I just watched this video after I cleared the dead half of my vegetable garden… 💀

[@GrowfullywithJenna]

There’s always next year 🙂