Let me begin this week on a personal note inviting all of you to an event tonight at First Baptist Church of Natchez. I often get questions about what Silverado is doing these days, the answer is not much but eating and enjoying life. Well tonight that will change as Silverdo and I will put on an evening church service. However unlike last year we will start two horses at the same time not just one. This is a different way of starting horses that involves a greater foundation of trust and understanding; it also allows you to see a greater transformation in both horses as the evening progresses. Please come out and enjoy the evening as we talk about teaching transformation through trust using horses as our example.

On the extension front we have had a few calls this week about how the frost from two weeks ago will affect plants still growing. Surprisingly it appears everything that I have seen came out of the 30-degree nights in good shape. However it is time to start looking into transitioning our garden out of summer mode and into fall and winter.

Q. Did the frost eliminate and insects that cause damage?

One of the biggest positives of last weekend’s cold temperatures is the removal of the dreaded armyworm. I would not say they are eliminated for the year with 100 percent certainty, but I would say I feel strongly we are safe from this pest and should reduce our scouting. At temperatures below 45 degrees armyworms tend to fade out a call it a year.

Q. Did the cold temperatures harm my vegetables?

Sometimes it takes some time to determine the damage caused by environmental factors. I have only looked at a few gardens but from what I have seen it appears most of them survived the cold temperatures well. However, if your summer garden is slowing down in productivity it is time to start thinking about removing your summer vegetables and preparing for a winter garden. There are several good winter options available from greens to peas so take time to find what you want for the next few months and plan accordingly.

Q. What should I do if I do not plan to have a winter garden?

If you are like me and would rather not deal with gardening in the winter there is a way you can still get productivity out of your garden that will provide an impact in the spring. Start by removing all plants from the existing area, then plant a cover crop to grow throughout the winter. The two most common cover crops are rye grass and clover. Both of these will help keep the soil in place during the dormant growing season, reduce weed growth, but more importantly provide organic matter for use in the spring. Once spring arrives you will disc or use another method to incorporate your cover crop into the soil providing rich organic matter for the upcoming growing season. A cover crop is also better to look at than a bare piece of land.

David Carter is the director of the Adams County Extension Service. He can be reached at 601-445-8201.