Winter’s right around the corner, and we may or may not be freaking out about what to do with our gardens. But luckily, we know an expert who will answer all our questions. Check out these tips from SJ Mag’s resident gardener, Toni Farmer, on how to prepare your garden for the winter.

Keep an eye out for the first frost (36 degrees or below), and when that happens, be sure to shut off your water so the pipe doesn’t split.  

Get that garlic in the ground – have to start growing in October and they’ll grow all winter long and thrive in the spring then harvest in june and july. But you just put them in the ground and walk away. 

Dig up your pepper plants, bring them inside, cut them back, water them and stick them in the basement or garage. We’ll bring them back out in the spring, and they’ll start producing right away. 

If your plants are bolting, decide whether you want to save seeds and just let them continue bolting or want to put your garden to bed (you can also choose to plant something different if you’re done with this particular crop but not done gardening). 

If you want to save seeds, don’t grab the tomato that was a loser, use the best tomato – the one that was spectacular. That tomato will have a higher chance of doing well next year. 

Start collecting empty milk jugs and big plastic water bottles from neighbors (around 5 – 10 if you’re really an avid gardener) for winter sowing – we’ll start that in December.  

Start using beneficial nematodes to cut down on pests. (Toni will take you through those here.) 

If you have room in any bed, grow cover crops to rejuvenate the soil. 

If you decide to put your beds to rest, put a 6 inch leaf layer on your beds to protect the soil and provide a home for pollinators who are wintering over. This keeps the microbiome alive and the leaves will disintegrate into the soil as time goes on, which is good for soil structure.