Best Way to Put a SFG to Bed for the Winter

erbarnett 11/14/2013, 10:12 pm

I have read several opinions about what to do after the harvest. I think I read that someone had recommended that the SFG be covered with black plastic to prevent the introduction of seeds during late fall and winter. Mel has recommended that new compost be added to the garden after the harvest, and later in his Answer Book, suggested that it be covered.

I tried something a little different. I covered the garden with a mixture of shredded leaves and green grass clippings, which came from the grass collector on my lawn mower. I figured that some or most of it would decay into the Mel's Mix, enriching it further. I am hoping that the top dressing will also kill a persistent weed that resembles spinach but is not spinach. In the spring I will remove this mixture so that the Mel's Mix will heat up.

Did I do the right thing? What do other people do in fall and winter?

mollyhespra 11/14/2013, 10:55 pm

I just top-dressed with a good layer of compost. In my zone, the ground has already frozen & thawed a few times, but the big, long, deep freeze isn't far away. I'm not too worried about nutrients leaching out of my MM over the winter because the ground will be frozen. I'll probably cover with black plastic early in the Spring both to warm up the soil a bit and to prevent too much leaching.

That's just my thinking. This will only be the second over-winter for my SFG, so I'm open to suggestions also!

audrey.jeanne.roberts 11/15/2013, 2:10 am

We grow year around in our zone 8a beds so I absolutely don't have a clue, but am interested to know the answer Very Happy

**sanderson** 11/15/2013, 3:11 am

I'm near Audrey, more 8b, and this is my first winter. For the beds that are now in the shade for the winter, I cleaned, added home made compost, watered and covered with 4 mil clear plastic. I'm glad I did because tomato seeds that survived composting are sprouting like mad in those covered beds. I hate weeding those vigorous little babies!! I'll add more compost end of Feb when I can start planting my little hothouse seedlings in March (weather cooperating).

There's another recent topic on adding compost now or in the spring. I'll see if I can find it.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t16796-compost-is-finished-spread-it-now-or-in-spring?highlight=add+compost+now

herblover 11/15/2013, 4:53 pm

I just put in a layer of compost and let it sit. I figure whatever moisture I get in the form of rain/snow will help break that down. Never had any problems.

**camprn** 11/15/2013, 4:55 pm

herblover wrote:I just put in a layer of compost and let it sit. I figure whatever moisture I get in the form of rain/snow will help break that down. Never had any problems.

+1

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