Summer may have come to an end, but your gardening doesn’t have to. Whether your passion is for growing ornamentals or vegetables, you can continue to reap the health benefits of gardening into the fall and winter months.
Fall is a great time to take stock of your gardens and plan for new additions. Local shops and nurseries are stocked with bulbs of all varieties, and it’s the ideal time to plant tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.
You can also plant or transplant perennial shrubs and flowers, leaving time for their roots to become established before the first hard frost, which usually occurs in late October in the Pottstown area. Learn more about fall planting here.
With most of the Pottstown area in USDA zones 6b and 7a, only a few backyard garden vegetables stand a chance of surviving into the depths of winter, but you can plant hardy varieties like kale, green onions, and collards now for harvest in early winter. There may just be time to start seeds for your fall garden—or get a head start on your fall vegetable garden by visiting one of the many local nurseries to see what cold weather plants are available.
Cold frames are another way to extend the growing season. With just a little shelter from the weather, fast growing vegetables like radishes, spinach, and lettuce will produce well into winter. Best of all, cold frames can be built out of repurposed materials.
In addition to getting plants in the ground, fall and winter makes an ideal time for making sure you’re making the most of your resources. Did you know that you can keep waste out of the landfill and create nutrient rich soil by turning your kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and leaves into compost? Starting a compost system in the dark winter months will ensure your spring plantings are nourished to grow their best when ample sunshine returns in the spring.
Looking to use your gardening knowledge and skills to make an impact in the Pottstown community? Learn more about the Community Garden Project.
