Winter doesn’t have to be a time to hibernate. Many people are surprized to know that you can actually grow things all year round, depending on your climate. Even if you’re living in an area that’s covered in snow, you can grow some herbs indoors or invest in a glass house to see you through the coldest part of the year. In Australia we are blessed with a fabulous climate for growing vegetables. So make the most of it throughout the whole year.
I’ve just finished planting out seedlings for another crop of brassicas (the cabbage family plants) and winter greens. Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage grow best at this time of year. They grow a bigger and tighter head and sprouting broccoli will continue to produce side florets for another month after the main head is harvested. Brussels sprouts actually need a long cool season to produce lovely big round buds. Winter also provides a pest-free environment for these plants to grow well, rather than in the warmer months when they can get riddled with aphids and grubs.
Silverbeet is a must during winter. We Aussies call it spinach, but it’s easy to get confused with the other variety known as English Spinach which is quite different but equally as yummy and also grows well in the cooler months. If grown in good soil, silverbeet can even last for a couple of years. Just twist off the outer leaves at the base, leaving at least 3 growing in the centre and it will keep on producing.
Winter greens are a good source of iron and fibre in our diets. Asian greens are best at this time of year, so look out for varieties of mibuna (long, dark green oval leaf), mizuna (light green, serrated edged leaf), pak choi, tat soi (small round, dark green leaves). Mustard greens are large wrinkly leafed plants with a similar growth habit to silverbeet but it tastes just like mustard, with a firey kick as you chew it! Rocket (sometimes called arugula) is a spicy leaf vegetable that’s perfect for winter. These all make good salad vegetables with lots of contrasting colour, shape, texture and flavour.
Loose leaf lettuce is best in summer but Iceberg and Cos lettuces are at their best now in winter. They produce a bigger tighter heart when grown in the cooler months. Make sure you watch out for snails because they’ll eat your newly sown seedlings overnight if you’re unlucky. So put out a beer trap or surround your seedlings with sawdust to stop them munching.
If you want to know exactly what seeds to sow in your area, anytime of the year, then join my Veggie Club – it’s free. You’ll have access to sowing charts for all regions and a newsletter that tells you what you need to do in the garden every month. I’ll even give you tips of controlling pests and diseases organically just when you need it. To sign up go to www.theveggieclub.com
Have a great week everyone,
The Veggie Lady
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