Making Way for Spring Crops

 

We’re all anxiously waiting for the time to plant our spring crops. The gardeners in the VegHeadz garden are worrying about the fall and winter crops which are still thriving in their beds and wondering what to do about them. 

If you’ve been growing a cover crop in the space, now is a good time to chop and drop it so that it has time to decompose somewhat before seedlings  and seeds go in the ground.

Crops like onions, collards, arugula, fennel, dill, and parsley, for instance, present a different problem.  Most of these crops will begin to bolt when the weather warms anyway, so cutting them is not a great loss. Others will become bug-ridden as the garden insects start to wake up and reproduce in the spring weather.  Wait until it’s time to plant and cut them off at ground level. The decomposing roots will provide nutrients for your new crops and will make way for air and water to reach the roots. Save only the best plants that are still producing such as onions or cabbages that have heads still expanding, and cut or pull the rest.  Healthy plants can go in the compost bin.

Remember that a variety of crops planted in the same bed or area provide advantages at any time, and particularly for the new plants. Existing crops can provide shade and protection to new baby seedlings as they get established, and plants that bolt and flower will attract pollinators and predator bugs to your new plants to help control pests and produce fruit.  

For more about preparing your garden beds for the next season, see the plan provided by Nathan Ballantine, the Man in Overalls, here.