With the colder temperatures approaching, many gardeners start to wonder if their hobby will, like the plants they care for, lie dormant. However, there are still things for gardeners to do. Afterall, a gardener’s job doesn’t ever need to end if they don’t want it to!
Plant Wildflower Seeds
One of the best things to do during the fall season is to plant some wildflower seeds. Now, you may be thinking why plant in the fall? Isn’t that counter-intuitive? Wouldn’t the plants die during the colder seasons?
However, according to Rebecca Sears, chief gardener at Ferry Morse, fall is the perfect time to plant wildflowers. This is because “it follows the organic cycle of naturally grown wildflowers.”
Naturally, wildflowers are known to grow throughout the summer and drop their seeds in the fall. Gardeners can help replicate this process by planting wildflowers in the fall. This allows the seeds to lay dormant throughout the winter, ready to sprout quickly in the spring.
Plus, it helps shorten the gardening to-do list when spring finally does roll around. Just be sure to consult the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map before planting. This will help ensure the seeds don’t die throughout the winter but are in soil cool enough to support them lying dormant.
Harvesting Seeds
Harvesting seeds is a great way to learn more about plants and save money.
The easiest crops to seed are annual plants like tomatoes, peppers, or beans. Each has a different process, so be sure to do some research before diving in; plus, there are a few plants that are more difficult to save seeds from due to cross pollination.
To store the seeds, make sure to keep them in a tightly sealed glass container located in a cool and dark area. Be sure to label each of the jars with a date as well as the seed type to prevent confusion.
Reflection
Gardening is a process that continually changes. Make sure to take some time to reflect on what happened as the seasons change.
Was there something you wanted to change for next year? Were there plants that didn’t seem to grow well? What about plants that thrived? There are so many different things that can be reviewed before making plans for next gardening season.
Like we said before, a gardener’s job is never complete (unless they want it to be, of course)! Even if these ideas don’t appeal to you, there are many other things to try. From winter vegetable gardens to keeping household plants, the gardening can always continue.
