It’s hard to believe November is here! With the falling temperatures it might seem that work in the garden is coming to an end, but until Kansas City receives a deep freeze there is still a lot to do in the garden. Here are a few things to add to your To Do list.

1. Harvest Sweet Potatoes – It’s important that they are harvested before the ground freezes. However, if mulched with straw they will be protected from a light freeze.

2. Garlic Planning and Planting – We suggest planting garlic from Nov 15 – Dec 15. Make note that garlic will take up garden space until it is harvested mid-July. More tips here.
3. Host a harvest party- Until a deep freeze, hardier vegetable plants like kale, collards and swiss chard will continue to grow.  Continue to host taste tests or harvest parties with your students.

4. Close the Gardens – Schedule a time to have your students participate in cleaning out the garden. This ensures that the gardens will be ready for next spring’s planting. Check out our Schoolyard Garden Closing Checklist to make this process run smoothly.
5. Garden Notes – Designate a notebook to record student’s thoughts and ideas about the garden.   This will be helpful to look over and review when planning next spring’s garden.

Here are some questions to reflect on with your students about the fall garden:

1. What did well in the garden?
2. Which vegetable tasted the best?
3. What did not do well in the garden?
4. What were the garden pest issues and how could we prevent their return?
5. What did you learn from the garden?
6. What do you want to plant next spring?