Winter Wonderland! At last!
What do you think about first when you think of winter?
I think of steaming slow-cooked stews. I think of crisp frosty mornings.
I think of sitting by the fire and starting into the flames. I think of snuggling under big blankets.
Winter is sublime in South East Queensland. It’s the best month by far in my opinion.
The threat of heat waves and drenching humidity has passed. The wild weather subsides. Days seem gentle and sunny. The air is crisp.
There is evidence that our winters are now becoming milder and shorter which is why I try to relish every moment.
Mostly, I think of a garden full of hearty greens bursting with vitality that squeak, even squeal when you pick them – kale, rocket, spinach, lettuce, flowering broccoli, chinese greens (mizuna, mibuna, mustards), endive, beetroot, carrots, silverbeet/chard and peas/beans are my go-to winter crops.
I found that cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflowers can all take too long to mature and suddenly we are into a hot spring and they bolt before maturation.
In the garden, the pest pressure has decreased.
There are still some cycles of aphids, caterpillars and grasshoppers however they seem manageable. The onset of slugs/snails is about to start. I use slug pellets around my violas/pansies. I’ve tried beer traps and diatomaceous earth with varying degrees of success. I always interplant edible flowers throughout the veggie garden. I do this to add complexity to fool pests. I also love the colour and drama.
Companion planting has had mixed success with me but I totally see how biodiversity in the garden does actually work to confuse pests.
Great varieties to add are calendula, nasturtium, violas/pansies, English daisies, California poppy, phlox, nigella and alyssum.
Garlic society is also a wonderful plant to add savoury flowers.
Basil, rosemary, spring onion, thyme and dill produce amazing flavoured flowers to throw onto salads, cakes etc.
It’s also the time of year when growth rate slows down in plants. Soil temperatures dictate growth rate as does length of daylight. It’s a great time to consider pruning fruit trees and flowering shrubs like roses. Removing dead, diseased, or crossing branches to improve airflow and sunlight penetration is important.
Please request a detailed ‘Winter Notes’ that I can email to you with all the information and please check your spam/junk folder to see if its accidently gone there.
Also, Bill O’Sullivan’s Facebook page, Tullamore Farm, is going from strength to strength with detailed fruit forest and permaculture techniques for our region.
Totally worth your while to like and follow if you haven’t already.
So please take time to breathe the beautiful crisp air, get sun on your skin for Vitamin D3 absorption to build immunity and enjoy the best gardening season in South East Queensland. Have fun gardening in your happy place!
