Fall Bed Prep

Proper fall bed preparation sets the foundation for a successful spring harvest. Leaving beds uncovered through the winter leads to erosion, soil microbiome starvation, and nutrient run-off.

By utilizing the right aeration tools, overwintering covers, and soil tests, you can protect your soil structure and give your next crop a head start.

How to Choose Fall Bed Prep Tools

Your climate, growing zone, and farm scale will determine the exact equipment you need to secure your garden for winter.

Tarping vs. Cover Cropping vs. Broadforking

• Cover Cropping & Tarping: Many growers sow a cover crop in the fall to build organic matter as part of successful land management. To terminate the crop, they mow it down and cover the bed with a heavy-duty silage tarp. Using a silage tarp blocks sunlight and traps heat and moisture, speeding up decomposition.
• Broadforking: Deep aeration is necessary for long-term bed health. Using a broadfork opens up deep channels in the earth while keeping the existing soil layers intact. The use of a broadfork increases beneficial microbes and earthworm activity in the soil, preventing the poor water penetration and cracked soil that lead to failed or undersized root crops.

Testing and Amending

While tarps and broadforks manage the physical structure of your beds, balancing nutrients is just as important. To accurately gauge nutrient depletion after the summer harvest, utilize a soil test kit and pH meter. Adjustments to pH and mineral amendments are best done in fall so they can settle into the soil.

Test your soil to see where you’re depleted, then choose a cover crop to match. Plant it in late summer if you’re not fall gardening, and terminate before it goes to seed, either by letting it winterkill or with a silage tarp if it won’t. Add any additional amendments at that point, then test again in spring before seed starting.