Winter has truly arrived here in Australia. The days are getting shorter, and temperatures are dropping, but that doesn't mean you have to close down your garden for the season! Read on to find out which veggies are the best to grow during cooler months and gain insight to our top 5 cool season gardening tips.
Winter Season Vegetables
As a rule of thumb, leafy greens and roots are the go to produce to grow during the cooler months.
Leafy greens such as spinach, arugula, parsley, kale, brussels sprouts, broccoli, Asian greens and chard thrive in cool temperatures and can often handle at least a little frost. Believe it or not, lettuce, even though a bit more sensitive to the cold, actually tastes best when grown in a cool climate.
Roots such as carrots, turnips, beets and parsnips can survive freezing temperatures and greatly improve in taste during the cooler season. As a defence mechanism the vegetable is forced to concentrate more of its energy on root growth and builds up sugars naturally to protect itself from the frost.
Cool Season Gardening Tips
Although cool season vegetables can survive in cold temperatures, Winter Gardening is much more effective when you take the necessary steps to keep your plants warm and protected from harsh winds.
Tip 1
Simply laying down mulch can raise soil temperature by a few degrees.
Tip 2
Plants thrive when they have a consistent environment. A worthwhile option being to invest in a Greenhouse. The retained radiated heat within a greenhouse provides a natural source of heating, enabling your produce to grow better and faster for a fruitful harvest anytime of the year.
Tip 3
Boost your seedlings even during Winter with a propagation box and heat mat. Seedlings need more humidity and warmth while germinating, now you can sow all year round.
Tip 4
Grow Indoors! Consider growing vegetables and herbs indoors. Herbs are super handy to have in the kitchen, if you lack space, fear not, vertical gardens take up near to no room!
Urban Green Farms have a wide range of hydroponic smart gardens that are soil free so you don't have to worry about mess.
Tip 5
Grow lights are the perfect solution to making sure your plant receives enough light in the Winter! Grow lights stimulate plant growth by emitting a light appropriate for photosynthesis. They provide a light spectrum similar to that of the sun and outdoor conditions are mimicked with varying colour.
With LEDs there is a cost saving of up to 70% for the most effective 'produce per watt, and even the option to have them set up with a timer for optimal results.