5 minute read

Backyard Gardener: Fall Gardening

from Ponca City Monthly October 2020

by Ponca City Monthly

from Ponca City Monthly October 2020, page 51

Article from: Ponca City Monthly October 2020

Business Spotlight: Hoddy Glas...

Story & Photos by Kat Long / Ponca City Monthly Contributing Writer

FALL ACTIVITIES

I hope you made it downtown for the Seed Swap. I hope we chatted, you met other likeminded gardeners and had lots of fun. As we growers and gardeners enter into October, there are some activities which can make you feel very accomplished when completed. They are not fun jobs, but they are necessary as we get into the winter months. Getting these things done will make spring so much more enjoyable. I promise.

FALL GARDEN

If you planted some fall yummies like kale, spinach, Brussel sprouts or parsley, make sure you keep an eye on them as frost time approaches. Don’t get me wrong, these crops love a little cold weather, but harvest as you go with the greens. You can try for the big harvest before a hard freeze, or you can keep your cutting scissors handy and harvest greens to use in salads, soups and in side dishes all Fall and sometimes throughout the winter, if your fall garden gets lots of winter sun.

October is also a good time to harvest the last of the summer herbs like sage, savory, lemon grass, thyme or oregano. Most herbs dry pretty easily, hanging upside down in a closet or pantry. Basil is harder to dry & store, but pesto is a wonderful, easy way to preserve your basil for future use.

If you just didn’t have it in you to plant a fall garden, no worries. Now is a great time to plant garlic. Tractor Supply, Brandts, Atwood’s, Lowe’s and a few other places around town, will all have fall garlic and onions.

If you see either on a shopping expedition, and you have to choose one or the other, go with garlic. I always do. If you plant your garlic in October and November, you can harvest in June and July. Give it a try. And plant your garlic where it gets plenty of sun during the winter months.

CLEANING

If there is an early freeze, the leaves will begin to fall fast and furious. Now is a good time to start a compost pile or use your raised beds to store the leaves so they can break down for spring planting. You can build a compost pile out of spare lumber or even use chicken wire circles to dump Wire Basket Composting your gathered leaves into. They compost down pretty quickly especially if you give them a turn every couple of weeks. If you have raised beds, after they have been cleaned out, pile your leaves into the beds, smooth and cover with a tarp or plastic bags. I use bricks to weight down the tarps. This cooks your leaves down into lovely compost and bonus, it is already in the beds for next spring.

Another cleaning item is tools. This is your final cleaning item before winter takes hold, because let’s face it, you will not be using the tools until then. If you have a lawn mower, drain out the gas. continued on page 57 October 2020 55

One of the things I forget is the south hose, so make sure to drain the hoses and put them away. For your hand gardening tools, and before you put the hose up, give all the tools a blast from the garden hose. You may need a bucket of soapy water and a stiff wire brush for encrusted dirt or rust spots. Dry everything well. Microfiber cloths are really good for drying tools and wick water away quickly. Give them a final inspection, and lightly coat with vegetable oil to assist with any stubborn rust spots while scrubbing.

I have an old metal spittoon that I fill with sand and a cup of vegetable oil for my hand tools to be stored in over winter. If you have wooden handles on your tools, get some medium-grit sandpaper and go over any rough spots and if you can, rub them down with linseed oil. This helps repel water which can erode your handles overwinter. If you need new handles, replace them now so you are fresh and ready to go for spring.

SEEDS

And of course, seeds. I am of the school of leaving as many seed pods and stems in the yard for the birds who overwinter here in Ponca City. If you have sunflower seed heads leftover, if you clean up the branches, leave the extra heads for the birds. If you can handle it, leave your plants which have gone to seed in the yard over the winter months. Bonus for cleaning these up in the spring is winter kills the roots and the stems come out easily when pulled. Great job for young kids or teenagers who need a job.

Bees hibernate in the hollow tubes of sunflowers, onions and thicker flower stems. Clean away debris from your foundation and close to the house so as not to attract the rodents, spiders or ants; But if you can leave seeds and stems out in the yard for the birds and pollinators, they would appreciate it. Your garden will thank you when these guys emerge in the spring.

Originally, this article was going to be a rant on spiders in the house. I am a staunch defender of spiders in the yard and I help any wandering spider in the house to the outside (except fiddle backs. They DIE!). But this weekend, a warning shot, or bite, was had while I was minding my own business, sitting on my couch. Fair warning, all outside spiders are safe and if I get bit outside, I am the trespasser. But inside the house, well, there are books and shoes within arms reach and they will be used. Rant ended. And Happy Gardening.

Basil Pesto

This is a really simple recipe to preserve the last of the basil in the yard.

• 3 cups rinsed basil leaves (you can use the stems too, but stems add a bitter taste)

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 3 garlic cloves, chopped

• ½ cup olive oil

• ¼ cup fresh tomatoes chopped

• ½ cup pine nuts or sunflower seeds or walnuts (depending on your nut preferences)

• ¼ cup water

• 1 teaspoon salt (I use Celtic or Kosher salt; and probably end up using 2 teaspoons) I like salt.

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Throw all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Spoon into ice cube trays and freeze for a couple of days. Pop frozen cubes into freezer bags/containers and label with “Basil Pesto” and date. (You will thank me later). Use in pastas or sauces. Lasts for a long time (I have used ones that are two years old from the bottom of the freezer without issue).