Putting Strawberries to Bed for Winter
Strawberries need a little fall prep to survive a Pacific Northwest winter without losing crowns to freeze-thaw heaving. Here’s what to do in September before the real cold hits, and it won’t cost you much.
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Clean and Store Tomato Cages So They Last for Years
Every fall I promise myself I’ll deal with the tomato cages later. Cleaning, disinfecting, and storing your tomato supports takes thirty minutes and saves you real money every spring. Here’s how to actually do it.
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Green Tomatoes End of Season: Ripen or Cook?
Every September I end up with a bucket of green tomatoes and the same decision to make. Here’s which ones will actually ripen indoors, when to strip the plants before cold rain hits, and what to do with the rest.
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Pot Up Herbs Before Frost and Get Free Cuttings
Before the first frost hits, potting up tender herbs like rosemary, parsley, and chives takes about twenty minutes and saves you from buying new plants next spring. This covers how to dig them up, take free cuttings, and actually keep them alive on a winter windowsill without overwatering them to death.
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Overwintering Onion Sets for a Bigger Summer Harvest
Planting overwintering onion sets in early fall gives you a head start that spring planting can’t match. Here’s how to space them, mulch them through a wet winter, and end up with genuinely big bulbs by summer.
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Cheap Fall Soil Testing (No Lab Coat Required)
Fall is the best time to actually figure out what’s going on with your soil before winter sets in. Here’s how to do it with a mason jar, vinegar, baking soda, and a cheap test strip — and what free or low-cost amendments to add once you know what you’re working with.
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Fall Raspberry Prep Without Spending Much
September is the window for fall raspberry prep in the Pacific Northwest, and it closes fast. A little cane cleanup, some free mulch, and smart watering now means a much better harvest next summer.
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Free Leaf Mold Bin: Turn Fall Leaves into Gold
Every fall your neighbors bag up leaves and drag them to the curb. That’s free soil amendment walking out the door. Here’s how to build a leaf mold bin from chicken wire or a spare tote, fill it this fall, and end up with crumbly, water-holding soil conditioner by next year.
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Hot Compost Pile: Turn Spent Plants Into Gold by Spring
September is the best time to build a hot compost pile using spent summer plants, grass clippings, and kitchen scraps. With the right layering and regular turning, you can have usable compost before spring planting begins.
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Garlic Planting Prep for the PNW: September Setup
Want real garlic bulbs instead of marble-sized disappointments? Fall planting is the whole game, and prep starts now. Here’s how to pick the right variety, source cheap seed garlic locally, and get your bed ready before October.
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Damping-Off Seedlings: Stop It from Killing Your Starts
Damping-off collapses seedlings at the soil line and it feels like nothing you can do will stop it. The fix is actually cheap and simple: clean containers, a sterile-ish starting mix, bottom watering, and a $5 fan for airflow. No fungicide needed.
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Sow Spinach Late August for a Spring Harvest
Sowing spinach in late August sounds like a weird idea until April when you’re harvesting greens and your neighbors are still waiting on their seeds. Here’s how to time it right, pick the best overwintering varieties, and get a jump on spring with almost no effort.
