Question
Hi Mike,
All of my beautiful vegetables have now been harvested.  What should I do to the land to prepare it for winter and the following growing season?

(we grew tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, eggplant, basil, lettuce and swiss chard)

Thanks again!
michelle

Answer
Michelle, you need to add as many organic materials to the soil as possible.  I try and get at least 3 cubic yards of shredded leaves and till them into the soil.  By next spring, your soil will become rich humus, providing the seedlings with all the nutrients they will need for next year.

Other options include compost, peat moss, aged manure, and dried grass clippings.  All of these will break down over the winter, adding all the organic matter you will need.

Next spring, be sure to rotate your crops at least 10 feet from this year's location.  Ideally, this would apply to the entire family of vegetables.  But in your case, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers all belong to the nightshade family, so rotating will not be of much benefit.  But if you add the organic amendments I mentioned above, the renewed soil should overcome any problems related to planting the same crops in the same location.

Regards,

Mike