preparing beds for next crop/year

19 years ago

We just pulled the end-of-season tomato and squash plants which were planted in lasagna and regular beds and mulched with straw. I would like to try some winter greens and root crops in some of these beds; I am planning to create hoop tunnels over the beds for cooler weather. Question: the squashes had squash vine borers and some of the tomatoes had virus problems. Do I need to do anything special to the soil prior to planting a winter crop or prior to next year because of these problems? Do I leave on the current straw or take it off, burn it, and put on new straw? I could take off the old straw, add some new compost, then mulch with new straw after planting the winter vegetables. What is the best course of action? I am going to rotate my crops next summer, so the squash and tomatoes will not be in these same beds next time. Thanks.

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Comments (3)

digdirt2
19 years ago
Hi liv2learn - So you are looking for fall and winter gardening info, right? If so then your best bet for specific info on that issue is likely the Soil, Compost and Mulch forum as they have discussions currently running on mulch contamination from plant diseases as well as how to prepare/repair and amend your soil.

It can be confusing I know to pick the right forum sometimes but the focus on this forum is how to grow from seed in containers using a special technique called Winter Sowing. ;) (See the front page.)

But there is also a related discussion going on fall gardening - how and what and when to plant - over on the Vegetable Gardening forum you'll want to check out. And there are some discussions there too on crop rotation.

Only certain viral diseases can cause you a problem with contamination - the normal composting/decomposing process takes care of most anything else so I really don't think you have anything to worry about. I'd just apply fresh mulch and compost on top of the old and move on.

Hope this helps.

Dave

PS: if you are going to be using tunnels check out the growing under cover tips on the Greenhouse & Garden Structures forum.

PSS: there is also a Winter Gardening forum if you are interested.
liv2learn
Original Author
19 years ago
Sorry for the mistake. I did not see that this was a winter container-only growing list. I shall check out some of the other forums you mentioned to see if I can find the information I seek. Thanks.
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digdirt2
19 years ago
No mistake ;) - just better sources for the detailed info. There is a long thread on the Soil forum about whether or not you should compost your tomato plants (search will find it but I think its on page 2 or 3). Anyway one of the things discussed in it is about the 2 main but relatively rare diseases that can contaminate mulch and soil and what to do about it.

On the SVB - the larvae can overwinter in the soil so short of replacing all the soil tilling is about all you can do to eliminate many of them. That, and prevent the moths from laying new eggs come spring.

Dave