Gardening – Plenty to do in winter garden

As the evening and early morning temperatures start to drop, things are slowing down in the garden. 

Despite things taking longer to grow, there is still lots of opportunity to get out into the garden in the winter. Here are some tasks you may want to do at this time of year:

• Cover your delicate plants from the harsher winter conditions. Use a covering such as frost cloths to protect tender plants and mulch to protect soil from the wind – especially with the huge rains we have been experiencing lately.

• Sow some winter veg seeds: In the greenhouse, or as I do, on a sunny window sill – growing them on a windowsill makes it easier to keep them watered and tended during a busy week. 

• If you want to direct sow in the garden, try carrots, garlic, onions, beetroot, and turnips. These will grow well during the winter and give you a good crop in early spring.

• Choose cool hardy plants: plant crops that do better in the cooler temperature such as kale, broccoli, carrots, onions, cabbage, or Brussels sprouts and why not add a bit of colour with pansies, calendula, polyanthus, hellebores (also shade tolerant), snap dragons or camelias to brighten up your garden and provide food for the bees?

• Prune deciduous trees while they are dormant, you will see they are dormant as most of the leaves will have fallen. Prune off any dead, diseased, or crossing branches. Aim to prune no more than a third of the tree – this will allow airflow and the tree to flourish in the spring with new growth. It is important to find out whether your tree fruits on new, or second-year, wood before pruning.

• Carry on composting through winter. Collect fallen leaves to make leaf mold, or add to the compost along with food scraps, garden waste, shredded newspaper, and cardboard. Turn your compost regularly and add some garden lime to keep the pH balanced and maintain a healthy compost ready for top-dressing your beds in the spring.

• Take stock and clean: clean your greenhouse, potting bench, pots, and tools to ensure diseases don’t spread and things are clean and ready for the next season. Cover any soil not being used with mulch or cardboard. 

• Plan ahead: map out your planting wish list for the coming season and source seeds ready for spring sowing.

Remember winter gardening is not only for your garden, but also for your wellbeing. Fresh air, physical activity, and connection with nature are all good for your health.

So as the nights draw in, make time to get out in the winter daytime. 

If you want to connect with some local community gardeners, come along to the Ōrewa Community Garden on a Wednesday or Saturday morning at 9am to share and learn new tips and tricks and get some inspiration this winter.