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When is a great time to start a garden? The Fall!

BeetlesPerSqFt wrote:There's definitely something to be said for starting new boxes/beds/gardens in the fall, Sanderson!

- the ground in my area in fall isn't as mucky as spring -- even if I'm not digging in it, it's still more pleasant to not be churning the grass to mud around a new box
- in my area it's less windy in the fall, or at least windy and non-windy days can be distinguished, so I can mix MM without it blowing away. Spring days in my area seem to alternate between breezy, gusty, and gale warning.
- it gives the MM time to fully moisturize (maybe I'm doing it wrong, but the garden hose on day 1 doesn't do this 100% for me)
- it gives the MM time to settle so that I don't suddenly have 4" of MM with small plants that can't be buried (Or maybe the settling is another just-me problem...)
- it gives time for microbes to colonize and establish themselves
- you can grow a (winter) cover crop without feeling like you're missing out on 'real' vegetables
- it's all ready to go in the spring, you aren't working against as much of a deadline for having things done before #wks before/after first frost so you can get your plants going in time to mature before hot weather - or ASAP so they can yield before first frost.
- the sales you mentioned
- it allows the winter season for carefully planning your new space (aka the catalogs you mentioned)

I'm hoping to switch about 4 beds worth of amended-dirt garden over to ANSFG between when first frost and true winter. I'm not sure how I'm going to do that and build 3 cold frames before true winter, but that's the plan!

Good points! When I wrote this, I was thinking of new members/browsers who think they have to wait until spring to get started on the beds. Also, leaves are so important for compost or mulch and fall is the time to collect the year's worth.


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