Sample issue

Hi there,

This month's jobs

• Cold areas: clear finished beds, and plant garlic a few weeks before the ground freezes.
• Mild areas: sow lettuce, spinach, radishes and peas for a winter harvest.
• Everywhere: save seeds from your best bean and tomato plants. See Save your own seeds.

Money-saving tip: free leaves

Fall leaves are free soil. Rake them into a pile or bag them, wet them down and let them break down over winter. By spring you'll have leaf mold, an excellent mulch and soil improver, without buying a single bag. More in Good soil for less.

Reader question

"My tomatoes are still green and frost is coming. Are they wasted?" No. Pick the ones that have reached full size, and let them ripen indoors at room temperature. Any that won't ripen are good for fried green tomatoes or green tomato salsa (use a tested recipe if you're canning it).

Happy growing,
Nickel Harvest