Planting winter vegies

If you want to get in early, plant your hearty winter vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, silverbeet, broccoli and beetroot. Try adding some Asian greens too. Watch out for cabbage white butterfly that may attack your crops.

Some critical considerations for getting your Autumn and Winter vegetables to grow happily:

1. Sunlight:

Sunlight is essential for all vegetables and generally require full sun to produce abundant healthy crops. Winter vegetables are no exception, but leafy greens and root vegetables tolerate less sunlight and perform well in partially shaded areas.

2. Frost:

If you live in a climate with regular frosts, ensure plants are established early so they can tolerate the temperature changes better. Winter vegetables can tolerate a bit of frost, and even improve the taste as a result.

3. Timing:

There are usually fewer pests and diseases during the cooler months of the years. Continue to give good air circulation to minimise the growth of fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and leaf spot and avoid watering the leaves of plants.

4. Maintenance:

Fertilise your plants with organic matter such as manure, fish emulsion and blood & bone regularly for lush growth. Apply compost around your crops to increase biological activity and improve the soil structure. A fortnightly dose of diluted seaweed or worm juice is a great way to provide additional nutrients. Mulching your beds will keep them weed free and help to warm the soils in the cooler months.