Yesterday I mowed more of the crimson clover cover crop growing in the garden. The clover is growing so nicely and just hitting bloom stage, it's almost too pretty to mow off. But it must be mowed in order to till that organic matter into the soil and get the minerals/fertilizers into the soil. Just as it hits bloom stage is the perfect time to incorporated this green manure into the soil and it will start breaking down quickly. I'll be planting those beds in a few weeks.
I'm actually not planting much so if you're following my lead be patient. The cool temperatures are keeping soil temperatures down which slows seed germination. We may get close to a frost this weekend so take care of anything you've planted that could be hurt by the frost and cold winds. Then in another week we'll really start planting.
Today I pulled weeds from the onion patch. Yes, sometimes we just pull weeds to get the garden ready for spring. If you've got weeds, pull them! Then work up a small patch of soil to get ready to plant in the coming weeks. Sometimes we look at our beds, see lots of weeds and get frustrated. Weeding a bed can be very therapeutic, I solve a lots of the world's problems on my knees pulling weeds.
As for tilling in the garden, simply turn over a couple square feet every time you go to the garden. If you plant a few things then spend a little time getting another few square feet ready, you'll gradually work your way across the garden. Tilling is detrimental to the soil biome, so don't fret if your bed doesn't get tilled, the earthworms and beneficial fungi will thank you.
I'm actually not planting much so if you're following my lead be patient. The cool temperatures are keeping soil temperatures down which slows seed germination. We may get close to a frost this weekend so take care of anything you've planted that could be hurt by the frost and cold winds. Then in another week we'll really start planting.
Today I pulled weeds from the onion patch. Yes, sometimes we just pull weeds to get the garden ready for spring. If you've got weeds, pull them! Then work up a small patch of soil to get ready to plant in the coming weeks. Sometimes we look at our beds, see lots of weeds and get frustrated. Weeding a bed can be very therapeutic, I solve a lots of the world's problems on my knees pulling weeds.
As for tilling in the garden, simply turn over a couple square feet every time you go to the garden. If you plant a few things then spend a little time getting another few square feet ready, you'll gradually work your way across the garden. Tilling is detrimental to the soil biome, so don't fret if your bed doesn't get tilled, the earthworms and beneficial fungi will thank you.