Gardening with Simon - Winter Gardening

Published on June 22, 2022

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Wanting a garden but you don’t have a lot of space? From my experience, container gardening is the way to go.

If you are mobility impaired, don’t have a lot of time and/or you’re living in a smaller space (such as a flat), container gardening is for you. I have learned container gardening has the same basics as gardening on a larger scale. Just work the containers as you would an open ground garden. 

I had 12 raised vegetable and herb garden beds and a 12x8ft glasshouse, and recently downsized to 12 42L fish bins for my garden. I must admit, I wish I had done it years ago. 

I filled the bins with 12 bags of Vegetable Mix and Sheep & Chicken Pellets and planted them out in stages, and they are flourishing. 

What to plant in Winter

Due to the risk of rot or being washed away, I would advise against planting seeds. Stick to seedlings as the colder, wet weather kicks in. 

Favourite winter vegetables to plant include:

  • Cabbage 
  • Cauliflower 
  • Broccoli 
  • Brussel Sprouts 
  • Carrots (Seed Tape) 
  • Beetroot (Seed Tape) 
  • Spring Onions 
  • Lettuce 
  • Leeks 
  • Silverbeet

In the Spring I will be planting Tomatoes, Capsicums, Chillies, Cucumbers and Zucchinis into 20L buckets.

Garlic Update 

I’ve also downsized my garlic garden from 282 cloves in 2021, to just 45 this year. Nevertheless, from bed preparation to separating bulbs for planting, the final harvest and drying, and worrying about ‘dreaded rust’, garlic growing still takes a lot of work. To beat the rust, I planted garlic in early March, and they are thriving. Out of the 45 I put in, 43 poked up. A good strike rate in my eyes. 

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I enjoy sharing my gardening adventures with you. If you have any general gardening queries, or would like to comment on this article, please do not hesitate to get in contact.  

Simon Broad
Email us.png sf.broad@xtra.co.nz