Keep on Growing
- Written by
- Dee Ellwood
Don’t give your vege patch the cold shoulder this season
Winter has ascended, so leave beach going to the brave and head down the garden path. It’s never too late to condition your soil and plant a crop to take you from now into summer. Kath Irvine of New Zealand’s Edible Backyard and permaculture designer, shares her planting and care tips for greater growing in winter – and beyond.
What can we grow in winter, to eat in winter and take us into spring?
If you want a gift that keeps on giving – or dishing – dine out on perennials.
“Perennials live on indefinitely in your garden. They require very little ongoing care – a huge bonus in winter – and can be planted as and when.” explains Kath. “In New Zealand the likes of perpetual spinach, perennial leeks, asparagus, rhubarb and nine-star broccoli grow well year-round, and are all great to add to winter recipes – stews, crumbles and casseroles.”
Seasonal winter veges to pop in the ground as soon as possible, include:
“The Brassicas family – cauli, broccoli, cabbage – love a cool growing season, and ideally should be planted in late summer or early autumn for winter crops,” she explains. “In terms of garden to table it really is a timing thing, for lettuce and kale it’s roughly six weeks of growing, globe cabbages and brussels sprouts from three months onwards, garlic closer to six months.”
For those of us who forgot to prep our soil for autumn or winter planting. Can we still plant in June?
“In the cold growth slows right down which is why winter plantings take a long time to mature, but it’s still worth planting out broccoli or cabbage – they’ll mature by spring,” she explains. “Kale, bok choy, spinach, peas, broad beans, miners lettuce and corn salad prefer the cold, so sow away.”
To condition your soil, simply spread a layer of compost, plant seedlings out and mulch.
“The best mulch is a mixture of what you have access to. Things like leaves, soft prunings from flowers and herbs, grass clippings, coffee grounds,” says Kath. “Liquid feed with seaweed every week until they get going. When they reach 30cm dollop rotten manure around them.”
As for winter salad companions – coriander, rocket, calendula – plant them in a container and keep them in a warm spot.
Frost protection and watering in winter?
If a cold snap is on the cards, cover young seedlings with a frost cloth or fleece, says Kath.
“Plants don’t need daily watering when it’s cold. If you’ve got good soil and mulch, you’ll be amazed how long your soil will hold the moisture.”