I've not gotten around to soil testing and with the temps in the teens and 20'sF at night, I'm hoping the well mulched gardens haven't frozen yet. My helper will be taking the samples on Friday, if it's not frozen.
I've harvested everything I'm going to with the exception of parsnips. They need to have some freezes to get sweeter. But if I leave them in the ground all winter, the critters will eat them all. So I'm hoping I can dig them in December...
Mulch! I am so behind the ball on this gardening thing. I always love your info too, very helpful! Question - the exposed carrots and beets are still quite alive, but small. Will they grow anymore? The ones under the fabric cover are doing nicely, almost big enough.
Once the soil drops below 50F there’s not much biology to support plants. Having said that, if I leave tiny oxalis plants in the ground over winter, I come out to good size plants in spring. It also depends on whether they get enough light.
I have never left things in the ground after November unless it’s parsnips because the critters will eat them or the ground will freeze down 1 - 2’. The parsnips I dig in December if I can before the ground freezes. They need to freeze to become sweeter.
Great info! Thanks!
What about Jerusalem artichokes? Do you grow those?
Yes, they grow wherever the voles leave the tubers in the garden.