Preparing your vegetable garden for your vacations

Going on a trip this summer? Here are a few tips on how to prepare your vegetable garden for your vacation, so that it can withstand your prolonged absence as well as possible 🙂

1 - A good idea: mulch your vegetable garden to keep your plants cool

If you haven't already done so, remember to mulch your plants before you go on vacation! Mulch has many advantages. Compared to bare soil, mulch will help your plants withstand the heat and drought in your absence. Mulch protects the soil from the sun. It limits water evaporation and maintains soil humidity. The thicker the mulch, the better!

To find out more about mulchingdon't hesitate to consult our article on the subject!

2 - Install solutions to irrigate your plants while you're away

How do you water your vegetable garden on vacation? There are various solutions available, depending on how long you'll be away.

Pour une courte absence (< 4 jours)

Before you leave, water your garden thoroughly to irrigate the soil. Your plants will last a few days without problems.

Pour une absence de moyenne durée (< 15 jours)

If you're going away for longer and you don't have a plant-sitter, you'll need irrigation jars! Better known as "olla" or "oya", they'll take care of watering your plants for you while you're away. These are terracotta water reservoirs, to be buried close to your plants and filled with water. Their microporosity allows water to diffuse progressively into the soil by capillary action. They provide your plants with a water autonomy of 7 to 15 days. So you can go on vacation with peace of mind! What's more, their use saves 50% to 70% water compared with conventional watering.

If you're looking to equip yourself, we've just launched the WATER by Ceercle® range, with water columns and water-saving vegetable gardens. Don't hesitate to contribute to our Ulule campaign!

Alternatively, you can try making your own ollas. See our article "The oya, a traditional and ecological irrigation system" for instructions .

For longer absences (> 15 days)

If you're away for more than two weeks, you can also install an automatic drip watering system.

3 - Preserve your herbs by freezing or drying them 

Don't hesitate to pick your herbs to preserve them. You have two options: freeze them or dry them.

Freeze your herbs

Basil, parsley, chives and coriander are easy to freeze. Wash your herbs, then dab them dry with a tea towel. Depending on your preference, you can freeze chopped herbs or whole leaves/stems.

Ceercle tip Ceercle freeze in cubes 🧊

For ready-to-cook portions, freeze your herbs in an ice cube tray! Place your chopped herbs in each hole of the tray, then fill with a little water or oil three-quarters full. These little aromatic ice cubes will be super easy to use when you're cooking 😉

Dry your herbs

Many herbs lend themselves well to drying. You can store them for months. This is the case, for example, with thyme, rosemary, sage, mint, lemon verbena, oregano, bay laurel, savory, tarragon, lemon balm, marjoram, chamomile...

Clean your herbs and dry gently to remove excess water. Using string, tie 5 to 10 stems of your plant together to form bunches. Hang the bouquets upside down in a dark, dry, well-ventilated room. 

Ceercle tip: if you don't know how to hang your bouquets, you can use hangers or your clothes dryer 😉

Drying takes from a few days to two weeks, depending on the plant. If the leaves are slightly brittle to the touch, they're dry! For best preservation, place your dried herbs in airtight glass jars.

4 - Harvest fruits & vegetables that can't wait for you

If you're going to be away for several weeks, remember to harvest what you can from your vegetable garden before your vacation: tomatoes, zucchini, lettuce, and so on. Between heat, drought and greedy animals, you never know what you'll find when you return. It would be a shame not to be able to enjoy it!

If you can't eat them before you leave, consider freezing or jarring them to preserve them.

Ceercle tip Ceercle successful freezing:

1. To preserve their texture and flavor, remember to blanch your vegetables before freezing them. A few minutes in boiling water and you're done!

2. For water-rich fruits and vegetables, it's best to freeze them in the form of coulis or compote. Yummy homemade tomato coulis 🍅

5 - Pre-order our autumn box for back-to-school!

Is your vegetable garden not in top form after your vacations? The good news is that a new season in the vegetable garden begins!

What if you opted for our annual subscription ? You'll receive 4 boxes each season, containing a selection of organic plants, grown in France, and adapted to your exposure (shady or sunny). All you have to do is plant them! There's no commitment, and you can cancel at any time.

If you order your subscription now, you'll receive your box of autumn plants in September! 🌱

I hope you find these tips useful! Looking forward to more gardening & vermicomposting tips in the autumn, I wish you all a very happy vacation 😉

Sarah de Ceercle