My gardening season is over for this year. Have pulled all plants and removed all the ground cover I put down. I did get a very late start to my garden this year and my crops suffered because of my laziness aided by a lot of help from the weather. Although my fig trees died back because of the very cold winter they revived and are healthy. I will be sure to protect them this coming winter.
I am hoping to find some wheat straw to use as my ground cover next spring. I have had great success using it in years past.
Good to hear from you. We sometimes grow winter wheat and cut it early to clear the way for potato patch. It makes a pretty good mulch cover, after drying a bit.
I think I may have related a story about a co-worker whose family brought over some figs(heirloom) from Italy.He lived in Central NY , near Syracuse NY.
In the fall, they would cut 1/3 of the roots to the tree, and wrap it with fall leaves, an overcoat of insulation/comforter,
and keep a 25 watt lightbulb within close proximity of the base and roots. To keep out mice, they liberally used mothballs.
They would then tip the tree over, secure it, and pack more insulation/leaves near the roots/base and mothballs.
Every year, they cut the 1/3 tree roots in a different direction, so that the tree kept 2/3 old roots; in spring, they replanted cut roots and added fertilizer.
The last I knew, it still bore fruit and was over 25 years old, and the 25 watt bulb expense is insignificant.
Quite a bit of work, but worth it if Joe Bastardi's forecast for this winter is true (repeat of last winter).
Joe Bastardi's weather forecast is due out tomorrow (Sat.)