By Janet Sellers
With the last frost date of late May and first frost date of mid-October, we can have plenty of time to grow most veggies as desired. Starting seeds needing long maturation periods at the end of January indoors will have them ready for the outdoors in April or May. Caveat: Our plants will still need protection from our random weather patterns of snow, frost, desiccating windy weather (and resident deer, rabbits, squirrels and underground varmints) and we need to plan for that. There are some things we can easily do even without a greenhouse.
Laziest, best winter tip
An autumn preparation of a 6-inch layer of multi-sized wood mulch is the most natural way to protect the garden bed and soil and seeds. (I’ve even put it down in winter on warmer days.) The sprouts emerge in their due time, ready for the season.
Cloches
Many report using translucent milk or water gallon jugs (bottoms cut off) over tender plants in spring. Some have reported they use a jug cloche as a mini cold frame with the jug cut in half as a lid and the base with soil and sprouts. Seed trays are sold many places and are ready to use on a shelf or sunny windowsill.
Cold frames
A cold frame is a transparent enclosure, usually close to the ground, that traps sunlight and makes a slightly warmer microclimate for plants. The top is usually inclined sunward, to maximize sunshine, and can be at different levels for air circulation. They are used season long or for seedlings and transplanting. Some cold frames can be made almost free with recycled glass doors or windows; plastic ones sell for $50 to $100 at hardware stores. They keep the soil warm and protect plants from wind and frost. Cold frames should work to protect our growing plants from deer and rabbits. In summer, change out the tops for window screens or the like for protection, especially from hail and wind.
Castor oil
I share this easy tip every year because it’s so effective and safe. Underground varmints can be deterred with castor oil. I have cats that keep that population down along with gleefully chasing away squirrels and rabbits, but my kitties don’t deter deer.
Castor oil spread over the lawn or a few feet away from veggie garden beds deters pests all season: A cup of castor oil mixed with a pound or two of plain clay cat litter and scattered over the garden or lawn deters them because the castor oil affects the plant roots and they cannot digest the treated plants. I’m not sure how the castor oil would affect our edibles for us humans, so I put the mixture out a couple of feet from the garden beds of edibles. It’s fine closer to flowers and ornamentals.
Janet Sellers is an avid “lazy gardener,” letting Mother Nature teach landscape success. Send your high-altitude garden and nature tips to JanetSellers@ocn.me.
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