How to Pre-Seed the Garden in Fall
Planting seeds in late fall or early winter can be the key to strong and bountiful plants for spring. This is a process called “Pre-seeding”; Mimicking how Mother Nature herself prepares for spring harvest. By doing this simple technique, plants are likely to grow healthier and resilient. Thus, you can be guaranteed a larger and more quality yield.
But before anything else, what kind of seeds can survive this process? Because you’re planting them in soil that will be going through winter, they should be invulnerable to frost and the cold. The seeds should also be made for early spring and self-sowing.
Seeds to Plant in Fall
Some of the seeds to plant in the fall include Celery, Turnips, Onions, Broccoli, Spinach and so much more. This could also be the perfect way to start planting Perennials such as Rhubarb, Artichokes, and herbs like Sage and Lemon Balm.
Now, all you have to do is three basic steps: Pick a place, Prepare and Plant.
1. Pick a Place
First, choose a location in your garden that is perfect for pre-seeding. There should be plenty of sunshine, which can be tough as sunlight can move quite often. Therefore, planning is imperative. Also, it should be a place where the soil drains well because pooling can cause seeds to rot.
2. Prepare the Plot
Once you find the perfect spot, preparing the garden bed is the next step. Make sure that there are no weeds or other rubble around that may attract disease and pests. The compost you use should also be quality and have completely decomposed.
3. Time to Plant
Lastly comes the actual planting of the seeds. This should always come after air temperature drops below freezing but before the regular deep freeze. Then, directly plant the seeds while following the instructions on that specific seed and water if needed without flooding. After that, add 2-3 inches of mulch to protect the soil’s moisture in case of a warm patch during winter.
Though with any process, unexpected things may happen that can stop the growth of your seeds. This may include things like rot and weather. The weather can be unpredictable and a warm winter can happen and promote rot. Constant thawing and freezing can also cause seeds to become dormant. Additionally, rot can come in the hands of still water in your garden but if you picked an appropriate place, this can be avoided.
Pre-seeding steps are simple and they can reduce workload and produce a bigger yield. So, trying it can be a worthwhile venture.