30-Minute Fall Wins: A No-Stress Plan for Small-Space Gardeners
Short on time? These three 30-minute tasks will reset your garden for fall and set you up for a longer harvest—perfect for balconies, patios, or cozy backyards.
1) Topdress & Mulch (10–15 minutes)
- Sprinkle ½–1 inch of compost on bare soil and around active plants (don’t bury stems).
- Add a light layer of mulch to protect soil and hold moisture.
- Container tip: mix a cup of fresh compost into the top couple inches.
2) Fast Fall Plantings (10 minutes)
Sow quick growers that love cool weather: radishes, arugula, mustard greens, baby lettuces. Keep the surface evenly moist. If temps dip, toss a row cover or old sheet over them at night.
3) No-Sweat Cleanup (10 minutes)
- Pull and trash diseased leaves/plants (don’t compost).
- Empty truly spent containers, rinse pots, and set aside to dry.
- Wipe pruners with alcohol so you’re not spreading issues.
Mini Timing Guide:
- 6–8 weeks to frost: sow spinach, kale, beets, carrots; plan simple covers in 2–3 weeks.
- 3–5 weeks to frost: go heavy on quick crops (radish, arugula, mustard, baby lettuce).
- <3 weeks to frost: focus on soil building, mulch, and row covers.
Want a complete weekend plan with printable checklists and planting calendars? I’m finishing the Fall Prep e-book now.