There is a dump of snow today in Derbyshire, and I’m reviewing what still needs to be done down on the plot to prepare for the winter months ahead. While the growing season may be winding down, the work is far from over!

With a little effort now, we can protect soil, crops, and beds, ensuring they’re ready to thrive when spring rolls around.

Clearing Beds

  • Harvest Remaining Crops: Gather any lingering vegetables like leeks, carrots, and Brussels sprouts. Many of these will sweeten with frost but don’t leave them too long if much heavy snow is expected.
  • Remove Spent Plants: Pull up old plants and weeds to prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in your beds. Chop disease-free plants into smaller pieces and add them to your compost heap.
  • Tidy Up Edges: Use this time to tidy the edges of your beds and pathways, ensuring everything looks neat and ready for the off-season.

Add Mulch to Protect Soil

  • Why Mulch? Mulching is essential for insulating the soil, retaining moisture, and suppressing weeds during the colder months. It also helps to improve soil structure as it breaks down.
  • Best Materials: Use well-rotted compost, manure, straw, or leaf mould as a thick layer over your beds. Aim for about 5–10 cm deep.
  • Cover Empty Beds: If you’re not growing overwintering crops, cover bare soil with a mulch layer or a tarp to prevent erosion and nutrient leaching.

Protect Overwintering Crops

  • Crops to Protect: Vegetables like kale, chard, spinach, and winter lettuce are hardy, but they’ll benefit from some protection in freezing conditions.
  • How to Protect: Use cloches, fleece, or polytunnels to shield crops from frost, snow, and heavy rain. Ensure good ventilation to prevent mould and mildew.

Start Planting for Spring

  • Garlic and Shallots: November is the perfect time to plant garlic and shallots, as they need a period of cold to develop properly.
  • Broad Beans: Sow hardy varieties like ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ directly into the soil or in pots for an early spring crop.
  • Fruit Trees and Bushes: Plant bare-root fruit trees and bushes now, while they are dormant, to give them a strong start next year.

Create Winter Wildlife Havens

  • Encourage Beneficial Creatures: Piles of leaves, logs, or stones provide shelter for frogs, hedgehogs, and insects. These creatures help keep pests under control.
  • Feed the Birds: Add bird feeders and water sources to your allotment to support local bird populations through winter.

Maintain and Store Tools

  • Clean and Oil Tools: After a season of hard work, your tools deserve some TLC. Clean them thoroughly, sharpen blades, and apply oil to metal parts to prevent rust.
  • Store Properly: Keep tools in a dry, frost-free shed or garage to prolong their lifespan.

Compost Like a Pro

  • Turn Your Compost: Give your compost heap a final turn before the cold sets in, mixing green (wet) and brown (dry) materials to keep it balanced.
  • Add Fallen Leaves: Leaves make excellent compost material or can be piled into bins to create leaf mould for use next year.

Plan for the Year Ahead

  • Use November’s quieter days to reflect on the past growing season. What worked well? What could improve? Start planning your crop rotation and order seeds to get ahead for spring.

I’m very much into the hygge vibe, and I love to sit down with a sketchbook or my iPad and plan for the year ahead.

Sarah.

Views: 3

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *