A FEW WINTER GARDENING TIPS SUNLIGHT Consider what beds, plants and soil have enough sunlight during the colder months. Most common veggies and herbs need 3-6 hours of sunlight a day to function and grow our food. Plant in warm sunny spaces and create more open sunlight on beds if possible. If you have limited space or low sunlight hours, focus on growing winter leafy veggies like lettuce, spinach, Asian greens, onion family, brassica family and herbs. FROST AND COLD WINDS Most suburban areas in SE Qld wont be affected by frosts, but more rural areas can be. Create barriers to stop and limit frost, and learn how to prevent and minimise frost effects on your gardens, such as hosing off frosty water from your plants very early in the morning. Cold winter winds will also dry and wind burn your plants, so protect them from winds with barrriers and wind breaks, and maintain adequate watering during windy periods. PLANTING THE RIGHT THINGS Choose and plant seasonally appropriate plants and seedlings, such as winter veggies and herbs. Were lucky in SE Qld to be able to grow most things year round, due to fairly warm winters, but some things simply wont grow in the winter, or wont be worth growing due to slow growth and low or no yield. Find a good seasonal planting guide and stick to it for best results. Try gardenate PESTS AND DISEASES Winter is a good time for less pests and diseases in the garden, but some challenges still exist, and with unseasonally warm weather and climate change, many pests and diseases are remaining year round. Find out what challenges exist in your garden and manage them accordingly (always organically of course). MAINTENANCE Winter can be a time of lower garden maintenance, as things grow more slowly and gardens are generally more dormant in the colder months. But its also a great time of year to catch up on garden tidying, starting compost piles (in sunny positions) and preparing our soils for spring. Remember that gardens still need enough water in winter, especially in cold drying windy weather, and plants and trees still need fertilising and lightly mulching. Always apply a lighter, thinner layer of mulch in winter to allow more warmth into your soils and encourage microbial activity. BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR WINTER FOOD GARDENING!
Posted on: Wed, 11 Jun 2014 05:03:20 +0000