Here in the High Desert Fall always seems to come before the official date (September 22).  We had several hard freezes in September and my garden is  ready to be put to bed for the winter. 

 Before I begin that process,I still need to dig five rows of  Yukon Gold and Red Pontiac potatoes.   So far one row of plants has yielded 27 pounds of delicious potatoes.  If my potato success continues I should have about 135 pounds of  “Spuds”to share with my family and friends.   Potatoes store well and provide that touch of summer goodness during the cold winter months.

Once the potatoes are dug and the garden is put to bed, I like to organize and care for the garden tools so I don’t have to waste time in the Spring.   Try my tips for keeping your garden tools in good shape.  

• Gather all your tools including shovels,rakes,spading forks,hoes, pruning sheers, hand tools and anything else you used with soil or plants.
• Wash each tool with a 10% solution of bleach water.  Wipe them dry.  This prevents bacteria from being transferred to healthy plants.  It also removes caked-on dirt and grime.
• Repair or replace damaged handles.
• Sharpen shovels,spades,hoes, sheers and hand tools.
• Clean any visible rust off of all tools and then apply a light coating of oil to all metal surfaces.
• Store all garden tools together in a dry spot,preferably on hooks or in a rack,never on a dirt surface.  Dirt absorbs moisture which can rust your gardening tools.

                                           A little organizing now makes  Spring gardening a breeze!