Tomato Dirt Newsletter
Volume 9, Number 23

Dear Tomato Dirt reader,

Welcome back to Tomato Dirt! A couple times a month, we’ll send you this newsletter packed with tips about growing tomatoes and using them.

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FEATURE: Get Your Garden Ready for Winter in 3 Quick Steps

Image: Tomato Dirt

After you’ve cleared out the tomato plants, removed the tomato stakes, cleaned them, and stored them, it’s time now to turn your attention to the garden itself. Your garden is still busy during the winter … just underground. Earthworms and microbes in the soil process leftover summer’s remaining mulch and other organic material. You can help things along.

• Burn debris before you turn the soil. Pile discarded leaves, straw, grass clippings, and other yard debris in your vegetable garden. Then burn them. Burning adds wood ash to your garden. Trace minerals are in the ash, thereby replacing those nutrients in the garden. Burning also destroys weed seeds, fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms that overwinter in the soil.
• Turn the soil. Break the ground deeply. Cultivating hardened soil allows winter rains to be deeply absorbed. This step will greatly improve the quality of the soil for your upcoming crop as it will allow wood ash and other organic matter to be restored. Then spade or rototill organic matter into the soil, mixing well to a depth of 8 to 12 inches.
• Mulch. Straw, compost, or mulch help your garden maintain an even temperature during the cold months. But the biggest benefit arrives next season during the wet spring. Mulched planting areas are protected from becoming a muddy, clumped mess. When you’re ready to plant, you can pull back undecomposed mulch, straw, or compost and get your crop in the ground on time.

… and get more helpful tips on our Fall Garden Clean Up Pinterest Board.

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Tomato Growing Tip: Mulch Your Garden NOW for Easy Spring Planting

Image: Tomato Dirt

See more ideas on our Fall Garden Clean Up Pinterest Board.

What You Need to Clean Up the Garden

Garden pruners and shears to clip back plants and weeds	Sloggers and other garden boots to keep your feet dry	Compost tumblers for your garden debris

More Tips for Prepping Your Garden for Winter