Welcoming Winter!
A graceful exit from the rains and preparations for winter gardening!
At the end of rainy season, the monsoon starts receding and the climate goes dry and sunny before winter sets in.
In South India this transition starts sometime in October followed by a dry, sunny but cool November and definitive winter in December.
Though the timeline on the calendar may vary depending on your location, this phenomenon is the baseline one which geography specific variations would apply.
Therefore, before applying the recommendations provided here, understand your local weather pattern (you already have a feeling for it by experience) from your local weather resources (meteorological dept. Website for ex.) and adjust applicable timeline for your location.
1️⃣ Prepping up your garden for the winter;
Clearing the stage for winter show!
🔸️Harvest all rainy season crops due from the garden during this time
🔸️ Clear all plant matter by pruning the plants
🔸️ Remove all plants that are towards their end of life
🔸️Weed thoroughly. I recommend uprooting the weeds over trimming them to avoid them regrowing.
2️⃣ Green room preparations
🔸️Be ready with your list of favorite vegetables that grow in winter.
🔸 Procure the seeds in time
🔸 Start winter crops indoors in protrays if possible
3️⃣ Setting up the stage
✅ Solarise old potting mix (let’s call it soil for the rest of the learning) in planters and beds to revitalize it. Particularly from those containers that had known instances of pests or diseases and if the soil is very moist.
✅ Assess the texture of the soil. Remember the type of garden soil? Yes, the loamy soil! It should be porous yet binding, it should allow breathing air while retaining moisture, rich in nutrition and teaming with beneficial microbes. Based on your *assessment*, determine the *soil amendments* needed.
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✅ Starting winter vegetables: Sow the seeds or if the saplings are ready in the nursery, transplant them in their planters.
✅ You may start thin mulching during winter and increase the thickness at the fag end.
✅ Expect new types of *winter pests and diseases* and prepare proactively. That makes for another blog reading!!
Happy winter gardening!
