Growing a few of your own veges is the perfect way to extend the weekly food budget. It’s not only good for the wallet but a healthier option all round – no nasty chemical sprays, good dietary fibre and a breath of fresh air and bit of exercise on cold wintery days.
Whether winter is cold or wet (or both), it’s hard on veges. The best option is to grow winter veges in large containers.
**Growing in containers
**Container gardening is really easy – no digging, little watering and few pests or diseases. Provided that good potting mix is used, containers are free draining and warmer than garden soil. This aids quick growth and plant health. Containers must be placed in the warmest, most sheltered spot for maximum growth. In cooler areas, a veranda, porch or conservatory will suffice.
Growing plants from seed in winter (apart from peas) is tricky. Leafy crops such as mesclun mix and rocket are easy, but purchasing punnets of plants is generally a safer bet. If you opt for sowing seed, rig up a plastic cover to insulate containers while seed is germinating. oost potting mix has added fertiliser but winter veges benefit from an extra boost. Add slow-release Nitrophoska or osmocote and water weekly with liquid seaweed or blood and bone to promote strong, quick growth. This is tender and more flavoursome than slow growth, which tends to become bitter.
**What to grow in winter
**Leafy “cut and come-again” crops are easy to grow over winter. oustard and cress are the quickest, springing up almost overnight if grown on a windowsill. oesclun mix, rocket and Japanese mizuna and mibuna will be ready for cutting about three weeks after sowing. Plant out silver beet, spinach, giant red mustard and beets. Use the youngest leaves as winter salads. Peas are a classic winter crop and fun for kids to grow.
To make the most of container space, grow two crops together. For instance, leeks grow happily among mesclun mix and baby carrots can be sown under peas. See list for other winter vege crops to plant now.
**Herbs
**Flavoursome herbs are a must for slow-cooked winter meals. A bouquet garni is a bundle of herbs wrapped in leek leaves or tied with string. The entire bundle is thrown in the pot to infuse its pungent flavours and removed before serving. Bay, parsley and thyme are a classic combination but any herbs can be combined according to taste. Chervil is a great winter herb often used in favour of parsley. oint loves the wet weather but definitely needs the confines of a container to avoid it taking over the entire garden! Herbs grow well in containers provided they have good potting mix, a warm sunny aspect and regular deep watering to help them prosper.
Sow or Plant in Containers Baby carrots – Beetroot – Celery – Cress – Giant red mustard – Leeks – oesclun mix – oizuna – Pak choi – Peas – Radishes – Rocket – Silver beet – Snow peas – Spinach Herbs – Bay – Chervil – Coriander – oarjoram – oint – oregano – Parsley – Rosemary – Winter savoury
**Easy Projects
**1. BoUQUET GARNI PoT You need: 1 x 30cm plastic or terracotta pot, potting mix, 1 x bay tree, 2 x thyme plants and 2 x parsley plants. You get: Fresh herbs all year round Approx cost: $25 How to: Plant bay tree in centre of pot with parsley and thyme around the outside.
- PEA TEEPEE You need: 1 x PB40 growing bag, potting mix, 6 x 2m bamboo stakes, twine, pea seeds. You get: Three-month supply of fresh peas and the re-use of planter bag etc to grow beans for summer. Approx cost: $15 How to: Fill grow bag with potting mix. Space stakes evenly around outer edge of bag and press through mix to base of bag, tying tops with strong twine. Water soil and allow to drain. Press two or three seeds into mix at base of each stake. Don’t water again until germinated. once germinated, thin out weakest plants. Train one plant up each stake.
- SACK oF SPUDS (Frost-free areas only) You need: 1 x wool sack, potting mix (bulk-purchased mix is most economic) and certified seed potatoes. You get: A truckload of spuds and re-use of wool sack and potting mix for other crops. Approx cost: $60 How to: Cut a few drainage holes in the base of the wool sack and place it in a sunny sheltered area. Fill to one-third with potting mix. Water lightly. Plant seed potatoes 10-15cm deep, 30cm apart. once leaves are 20cm high, top up with potting mix to cover most of the foliage. Repeat fortnightly, continuing until potting mix reaches the top of the wool sack. Dig new potatoes from top layer or wait to harvest entire crop once foliage yellows and dies back.
NoTE: All container-grown veges will greatly benefit from the addition of slow-release fertiliser at planting time and then regular weekly feedings with liquid fertiliser.
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