This past week, we finally received another frost for the fall season. Now that the tender vegetation has died, it is time to perform the fun task of digging up the roots we want to save and store over the winter. These would be cannas, dahlias, gladioli, caladiums, callas, begonias and ismenes. If left in the ground in our region, they will surely rot due to the extreme winter temperatures. All of these plants need a killing frost before digging to stop the growing process, except for the ismenes.
As the growing season comes to a close, I find myself gathering as many things from the garden as possible before it is all done. The past few weeks have been spent collecting garden seeds, harvesting the last of the tomatoes and peppers, and finally, this past week harvesting the herbs that I want to preserve.