October Garden Tasks
October always seems to feel a little bit like being in Las Vegas. The further along we get into the month the greater the odds are that we will get a frost. Of course in the garden we can improve our odds by protecting sensitive crops from the early light frost or extending the season of cold tolerant crops like lettuce, chives parsley celery, spinach, corn salad, endive, and water cress . Light frosts (29 degrees F to 32 degrees F) could come as early as the end of the month or as late as the end of next month. Much of this depends on your garden’s microclimate. Low lying areas where cool air pools will have earlier frosts. Floating row covers (spun polyester) are great odd improvers, like an ace up your sleeve, that you can use over your tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil and other frost sensitive crops. A double layer will provide additional protection for moderate frosts (25 degrees F to 28 degrees F). But at some point the house (Jack Frost) always wins.
