Despite the cold, there are many herbs and vegies you can grow now to enjoy throughout the chilly season.
Temperatures may have dropped, but gardening doesn’t have to stop! There’s a variety of produce that thrives at this time of year and will provide you and your family with an abundance of delicious greens. Quick-growing vegies like bok choy will be ready for harvest in a matter of weeks, while others can be harvested throughout winter and into spring.
Asian greens
By: seedling, successive
How many: 6 seedlings per 1m row, 15cm apart, every 4 weeks
Time to harvest: 3-6 weeks
Yield: 1kg per plant
Tips: very quick crop. Harvest progressively by removing the outer leaves.
Beetroot
By: seed, successive
How many: 1 x 1m square, with a seed every 10 cm, to make 100 in the square. Every 6 weeks.
Time to harvest: 12 weeks
Yield: 7kg per square metre
Tips: plant different colours, such as Golden, Chioggia (red and white stripe) and Bulls Blood, individually or purchase mixed heirloom seed packets.
Carrots
By: seed, successive
How many: 1 x 1m square, with 15 seeds in each of 15 rows, every 4 weeks
Time to harvest: 12-16 weeks
Yield: 40kg per square metre
Tips: sow different colours, such as Purple Haze, Chanteray, and white for a fun colourful harvest.
Coriander
By: seed or seedling, once only
How many: 4 plants
Time to harvest: 4 weeks
Yield: pick leaves throughout winter and spring then save seed for next year.
Lettuce
By: seedling, successive
How many: 9 plants every 6weeks
Time to harvest: 3 weeks for non-hearting, 8 weeks for hearting
Yield: 500g per plant
Tips: try Cos, Butterhead and Mini Cos. A sprinkle of rocket seeds in the lettuce patch will keep you supplied through winter.
Spring onions and leeks
By: seedling, successive
How many: 20 seedlings, 5cm apart in a 1m row, every 4-6 weeks
Time to harvest: 8-12 weeks
Yield: 1-2 kg per metre
Tips: leeks and spring onions can be used throughout the cool weather when onions are unavailable and unlike onions can be planted successively.
Peas: snow, snap and podded
By: seedling, once only
How many: 1m row of each, or 1 tripod of 6 bamboo stakes,with two seeds per stake
Time to harvest: 8 weeks
Yield: 3 kg per metre
Tips: can be grown in pots using a tepee. Watch out for fungal diseases such as powdery mildew. Spray with eco-fungicide if necessary.
Silverbeet
By: seedling, once only
How many: 12 plants
Time to harvest: 10 weeks
Yield: 2-3kg per metre
Tips: quick-growing leafy green that performs well throughout the year. Harvest outer leaves regularly by twisting and pulling the base of the stalk.
Kohlrabi
By: seedling, successive
How many: 6 plants, 20cm apart, every 6 weeks
Time to harvest: 10 weeks
Yield: a 300g bulb plant
Tips: purple varieties grow best through winter. Harvest when the stem is between the size of a golf ball and tennis ball. Do not leave too long as bulbs get woody and tasteless.
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