Take advantage of the recent showers and winter sunshine and get a few veggies growing in your patch.

Words Michael Keelan

Onions

There are many onion varieties that are suitable for planting in winter, including red, brown, white, spring and shallots. The best way to decide what to plant is to work out which variety you would use most in your kitchen – there’s no point growing something you’re not going to eat. They are not a quick-growing crop, so patience is required. Plant out in a sunny, well-drained position. Weeds can be a problem, so remove them as they appear. Feed with an organic fertilser that contains potash for best results.

Spinach

This is one of the easiest and most nutritious veggies you can grow. Spinach can be grown from seed or seedling and will grow quickly and generally pest-free in the winter months. Choose a sunny spot that is well-drained and composted. When harvesting, cut about 50mm from the base and within a few weeks the leaves should regrow. Feed with PowerFeed or Thrive. While spinach will also grow in the warmer months, it can quickly “bolt” to seed.

Peas

Love them or hate them, peas are easy to grow and offer the gardener some quick and long-picking produce. Choose peas that either require a trellis (climbers) or dwarf varieties that can even just run on the ground – although, in reality, they all want to climb. Peas can be grown in pots as sprouts as they will shoot in about 10 days from sowing. Always have staggered plantings as that way you will have a continuity of supply for months on end. Fertilise with organics low in nitrogen.

 

This article first appeared in the Winter 2019 issue of SALIFE Gardens & Outdoor Living magazine