Bend, OR (KTVZ) –
With many different microclimates and sometimes unpredictable weather, gardeners in Central Oregon have a short and tricky growing season. As summer comes to a close, Ashley, the founder of Bend Urban Gardens, has a few tips on how to extend the growing season and get the best returns from your garden into the fall.
She says, “As the weather’s starting to shift…we’re going back to using that frost cloth or row cover, sometimes people call it…Another thing that’s really, helpful for extending our growing season is utilizing mini hoop houses, as we call them at Bend Urban Gardens or cloches; essentially it’s a mini greenhouse environment that you can create for your plant.”
She recommends having a max/min thermometer to get the best temperature readings for your own backyard so you can use your season extension tools properly.
She says that the fall season is one of the best seasons to prepare and build your garden to get ahead for when spring rolls around. Or, with the right tools, you can even start planting more in your garden right now.
If you are looking to add to your garden before fall begins, she suggests: purple sprouting broccoli, spinach, radish, arugula and other leafy greens. With the right tools, these plants can last through the winter and make for a great spring harvest.
If you’d like to learn more about how to prepare your garden for the changing season, Bend Urban Gardens is pairing with Worthy Garden Club to hold a workshop called “Winterizing Your Garden” Saturday, September 13th from 10am to 12pm at Franklin’s Corner Community Garden in Bend. The class is free to attend, but a $10 donation is recommended when you reserve your spot.
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