Gardening – Prepare for a better spring garden

Winter may seem like a quiet time in the garden, but it can be a productive time for gardeners on the Coast. Our subtropical winters mean we can keep harvesting fresh produce while preparing the soil for an abundant spring.  

For many, the tomatoes and beans may have finished but resist the urge to leave empty garden beds bare. Instead, clear away old plants, add them to the compost (unless they’re diseased), and spread a generous layer of compost or well-rotted manure over the soil. Remember beans are nitrogen fixers so chop then off at the ground and leave the roots to feed the soil. 

Winter rain and worms will do a lot of the hard work, creating rich soil ready for spring planting. Mulch all your exposed beds with straw or leaves to protect the soil, suppress weeds and retain valuable nutrients especially with the super El Ninio on its way this summer, mulching the soil will be vital for water retention on the dry days. 

Winter is also the perfect time to keep your kitchen stocked with fresh greens. Silverbeet, kale, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, spring onions, rhubarb and lettuce all thrive in our cooler weather. Garlic and leeks planted now will be ready to harvest in early summer, while broad beans quietly grow through winter before rewarding you with an early spring crop. 

In the herb garden, parsley, coriander and chives continue producing through winter, adding fresh flavour to soups, casseroles and winter meals. Citrus trees are also at their best, with lemons, mandarins and oranges providing a welcome vitamin C throughout the cold and flu season. 

Now is also the time to think ahead. Clean and sharpen garden tools, repair raised beds, check irrigation systems and order seeds before the spring rush. Starting seeds indoors or in a sheltered greenhouse later this winter will give tomatoes, chillies and other warm-season crops a head start when temperatures rise.

One of the most important winter gardening jobs is simply spending time in the garden observing. Notice where water collects after heavy rain, which parts receive the most winter sunshine and where the cold winds funnel through. These observations will help you decide the best places for next season’s crops – a simple permaculture principle (Observe and Interact) that often makes a big difference.

A productive spring begins now. Every wheelbarrow of compost, every weed removed and every garlic clove planted this winter is an investment in months ahead of fresh, homegrown food. So, pull on your gumboots, enjoy the crisp winter air, and remember: the best spring gardens start now.