From the Garden Registrar: More on Fall Crops, Bad Plots, and Produce Picking

Hello Gardeners,

MORE ON FALL CROPS – One of our more experienced gardeners pointed out to me that she’s had good luck planting fall crops up until the middle of August. The first frosts in October are usually light and don’t kill the more cold-tolerant plants. In fact, some crops, such as kale, are improved by having been frosted. Your exact location in the gardens could make a difference – this gardener is fairly high up, and her crops may have survived frosts that killed plants in plots in lower spaces in the garden. One or two degrees in temperature can make a big difference. She also mentioned that she’s had good luck planting spinach late in the season. If she covers it over the winter, it comes back in the spring.

BAD PLOTS – With the heavy rains and hot days, everything is growing fast in our gardens, including the weeds. Many gardeners have worked hard to keep up, and thank you! But some gardeners seem to have given up the fight and have let their plots go. I know it’s been hot and now it’s turned buggy as well. But please remember that abandoned plots are bad for the gardens. If you are leaving town or giving up your plot for any reason, please let me know as soon as possible. I will try to find a new gardener for your space. 

Also, if there is a very weedy plot in your garden neighborhood, please email me the plot number. I’ll take a look at it and send the gardener an email if I agree with you that the garden needs attention. It’s a rule in our gardens: “WEEDS MUST BE KEPT UNDER CONTROL.”

PRODUCE PICKING - Also, it’s just as important for you to keep picking your produce. Remember – if it’s more than you want, you can leave extras on the share shelf, or take them to a food pantry, such as St. Vincent de Paul. (But if it’s already too old to be worth eating, then it’s time to compost it.) It’s terrible to waste food when there are so many hungry people, even here in Madison. The food pantry staff and their customers really appreciate fresh, organic, good quality vegetables. And leaving ripe and over-ripe produce in your plot attracts animal pests. The voles are already fat enough – they don’t need the extra calories.

WORKDAYS –  I’ll send out a separate email with workday information when I have it.

Happy gardening, everyone.

Kathryn