Autumn Gardening
Autumn is a busy time of year for gardeners. Vegetables need to be harvested and preserved. Flower seeds are collected and spring bulbs are planted. Cleaning up vegetable and flower beds is time consuming, but also really rewarding. I start planning what I'm going to add or change to my gardens for the next spring. What perennials do I need to move or split? I make lists and drawings in my garden journal. I take pictures of the progress in all my gardens from spring until autumn so that I know when things flower and how big they grow. I take notes of what changes I have to make so that I'm ready for spring. I take inventory of my seeds so I can order what I need.
Harvesting Vegetables
Picking vegetables happens for several weeks. I plant vegetables at different times so that I can have fresh vegetables over the summer and into the fall. Before the colder temperatures arrive, everything is picked, cleaned and then preserved to last until the following spring. Some vegetables are blanched, others are bottled.
Making Preservatives
Making preservatives is one of my favorite fall activities! I love knowing what goes into our pickles, beets, salsas and sauces. I tend to alter a lot of the older recipes to reduce sugar content or to add more spices and hot peppers. The aromas in the kitchen are amazing!
Planting Spring Bulbs
Before I plant my bulbs, I prep my gardens, clearing out plants that have finished growing for the season. I make a plan before I start planting. Then I dig my holes, add bone meal to the soil and group my bulbs so that they cover the area between where my perennials will pop up in the spring.
