By Farmer Shaun
The growing season isn’t over yet and after a cold and snowy start, it finally looks like fall weather. So how is your garden doing? Did you forgot about those carrots you planted late in the summer? Go check on them, they are still growing. I bet they aren’t that big though.
At the farm we have a bunch carrots that did not grow very tall, but there is no reason to pull them out of the ground. We have covered them with about one inch of fallen leaves. Come spring the kids at the Lafayette Learning Center will enjoy a really early fresh carrot snack.
So, if you want a fresh carrot snack too, go check your garden to see if you have any carrots still growing. It is not too late; take fallen leaves and lightly cover the carrots. You want to be able to see some of the green of the plant, but not all of the plant.
Once we reach 60 degrees during the day in the spring, uncover those carrots. They will bounce right up and be the best tasting carrot you have ever had. I know the kids are going to love them!
While you’re out at the garden with that bag of leaves, do you have empty space in the garden plot? If so, you could direct seed spinach and lettuce seeds now for next spring!
Here you go, direct seed both lettuce and spinach, like you would in the spring, and cover them with a 2-inch layer of leaves. This will protect the seeds from the harsh winter and help them germinate early in the spring.
Once it stops dropping below 45 degrees at night in the spring remove the leaves. You will get a harvest in no time and certainly be enjoying those fresh veggies earlier in the spring than anyone else.
‘Farmer Shaun’ Ananko is the head gardener for Grow It Green Morristown’s Urban Farm at Lafayette. Grow It Green Morristown has been honored by Gov. Christie with an environmental excellence award for promoting a healthy and sustainable community.
