Produce Year-Round: Four-Season Food Gardening

From the Publisher

As the seasons change, so too do the opportunities and challenges faced by the gardener. Let us explore the unique joys and tasks that each season brings.

SPRING During the spring, gardeners can delight in the abundance of evergreen perennial herbs such as rosemary, bay leaf, sage, oregano, thyme, winter savory, and mint, which are available for harvest. However, some deciduous varieties of perennial herbs require time to regenerate as they lose their foliage in the colder months, necessitating patience and care.

SUMMER A useful technique I learned when picking blueberries at a local farm is to cup your hand right beneath a clump of berries and gently roll your thumb over the clump. This allows the ripe berries to easily fall off, making the harvesting process more efficient and enjoyable.

FALL To ensure a bountiful fall harvest, it is important to plant fall crops started in the summer at least 6–10 weeks before your area's average first fall frost date. This will give the plants enough time to adjust and mature before you harvest or try to overwinter them. Your transplants can also be planted under a low tunnel, in a greenhouse, or a cold frame, providing additional protection from the changing weather conditions.

WINTER While you may not be planting new vegetables in your outdoor garden if you live in a cold climate, the winter season presents an opportunity to continue your gardening efforts using a technique called "winter sowing." Late-winter seedings of cold-tolerant crops under row covers, inside cold frames, and in unheated greenhouses can help jump-start the growing season, allowing you to get a head start on the next year's harvest.

In conclusion, each season brings its own unique set of challenges and opportunities for the dedicated gardener. By understanding and embracing the rhythms of the natural world, we can cultivate bountiful harvests and a deeper appreciation for the cyclical nature of life in the garden.

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