Welcome back to Can You Dig It?—your quick read for, hopefully, preventing the complete collapse of your eggplants, over infestation of insects on your brassicas, and a giant bush of leaves where your tomatoes should be! This month we sadly see the end of summer as it’s overwhelmed by the coolness of fall. But don’t despair as there’s still a brief window to not only squeeze the rest of summer out of your growing, but more importantly prepare your growing spaces (or raised beds) for the fall and into winter. Let’s jump right into the list of things I intend to do before it gets too cold for breathing:
Test & Amend Your Soil
● Conduct a soil test to check pH and nutrient levels. (UMass Extension has made an offer to Can You Dig it? for a small number of free tests. See Bonus Tip below.)
● Add compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure. This is important because the smallest of creatures important for the soil food web hide out and eat in tiny air pockets in the soil.
● Adjust pH if needed (most plants prefer 6.0–7.0). Soil that’s too acidic or too basic will not allow for nutrients to get to the plant(s) you’re growing. You would be surprised how solving this simple issue can alleviate many problems.
Clear & Weed Garden Beds
● Remove spent summer crops and weeds to prevent disease and pests from overwintering. Again, many issues are the result of just not cleaning disease or insect-infected plants.
● Add pulled weeds to a hot compost pile (if seed-free) or discard. Making a hot compost will be an option for discussion next month.
Plant Cool-Season Crops
● Vegetables: Spinach, kale, lettuce, and radishes all work wonders well into October. Garlic (look for hardneck varieties) can be planted in late October and will bring you results in spring.
● Cover Crops: You know this was going to be mentioned! Sow winter rye or clover to enrich soil over winter. Even smaller raised beds can benefit from some cover crops.
Mulch & Protect Soil
● Apply 2–3 inches of mulch (straw, shredded leaves) to retain moisture and regulate soil temps for fall and for winter. If the idea of having your soil warmed and ready for next spring sounds great to you, I would do this for sure.
● Protect fall-planted crops with row covers if early frosts are predicted.
Prune & Maintain Perennials
● Trim back diseased or dead foliage but leave some stems for overwintering beneficial insects.
● Avoid heavy pruning of woody plants like blueberries and raspberries (wait until late winter).
Hydrate & Monitor Watering
● Ensure new plantings get 1 inch of water per week if rainfall is not happening.
● Water deeply before ground freezes to help roots establish.
Bonus Tip: Watch for early frosts (avg first frost in Zone 6 MA is mid-Oct) and be ready to cover tender plants. For soil test information, please reach out to urbanag@umass.edu for details.
Upcoming conferences and workshops in the area:
● Check for the Urban Agriculture display at the Big E this fall in the Farmarama building.
● 27th Annual Garlic & Arts Festival runs September 27-28 in Orange, MA.
Thank you for your time, and as always, to share or ask any farm or gardening questions, please reach out to canyoudigit413@gmail.com ■