Autumn's abundance

Lee Sullivan shares her tips to growing her top five winter vegetables to keep your family fed through the winter.

The summer harvest was fruitful, but as the season winds down, it’s time to remove spent plants and start making way for next season’s bounty. The list of cool-loving crops is long, but I’ve narrowed it down to my top five. These crops are on a yearly rotation in my garden and keep my family well-nourished through autumn and winter.

Peas

Position: Full sun



Soil prep: Peas like a free- draining, alkaline soil. Add compost and aged manure.



Planting: Best sown direct, about 1cm in the ground. They are susceptible to rotting, so water them after planting and don’t water again until they have germinated.



Care: Peas like to climb so will need a trellis. I like to grow them up arches or teepees, but they will grow on any tall sturdy structure.



Harvest: Harvest time depends on the variety of pea you are growing. Snow peas are ready once the pod is developed and still flat – before peas appear – whereas podded (or garden) peas take a little more time and are ready when the pod is full.

Carrots

Position: Full sun



Soil prep: Carrots grow best in a loose, free-draining, sandy soil, free of debris. Unlike most vegetables, they don't need a huge amount of nutrients to thrive. Go easy on nitrogen as this promotes leafy tops instead of root growth.



Planting: Sow seeds direct into garden beds. You can sprinkle seed over the garden bed and thin out seedlings later or space them out now to avoid having to thin down the track. Mixing seed with sand can also help with spacing. Ensure seeds are only sown at a depth of about 5mm. Cover lightly with soil and water in well.



Care: Thin carrots when they are around 5cm tall. If needed, thin again at around 10cm. It is important not to hesitate on thinning as carrots grown too close together will impact root development.



Harvest: Approximately 90 days from sowing.

Cauliflower

Position: Full sun



Soil prep: Soil should be well- draining and enriched with lots of compost, aged manure and an organic slow-release fertiliser.



Planting: Sow seeds direct or in trays for transplanting. Space 50-60cm apart for optimal growth.



Care: Feed regularly throughout the growing season with a liquid fertiliser. Water regularly as inconsistent moisture will stress plants resulting in small or no heads, or bolting. Cover heads with the outer leaves and secure with pegs; this will help keep them white.



Harvest: Heads are ready to pick from 90-120 days, depending on the variety. Pick when large and curds are tight.

 

Radishes

Position: Full sun



Soil prep: Loose, free- draining soil enriched with compost.



Planting: Direct sow seeds at a depth of about 1cm. You can sow a bunch of seeds in a shallow trench to thin later or space your seeds 8cm apart. Water in well.



Care: If radishes are crowded, they will not produce well. Ensure there is about 8cm between each plant.



Harvest: Radishes are ready to harvest in 6-8 weeks.

 

Lettuce

Position: Part-shade/full sun



Soil prep: Lettuce isn't super fussy when it comes to soil however lots of compost and aged manure prior to planting is beneficial.



Planting: Sow in trays or direct into garden beds. Sprinkle seeds onto the soil, lightly cover and keep soil moist. Germination typically occurs within 10 days.



Care: Snails and slugs love lettuce. Beer traps around the lettuce patch can help with keeping them at bay. Covering seedings with cuffs made out of cut up milk cartons or bottles can also provide protection.



Harvest: Harvest the outer leaves as required