Gardening – Winter gardening

As the chilly nights set in on the Coast, it’s time for gardeners to turn our attention to the seasonal tasks that will set us up for the spring. While many plants slow down or go dormant in winter, our milder climate allows us to garden though most of the year. It’s also the ideal season for putting vegetable and flower beds to rest and tackling invasive weeds. 

One of the key tasks in resting your beds involves clearing out spent summer crops, removing plant debris, (chickens make short work of this) and enriching the soil with compost or well-rotted manure. A layer of mulch, such as pea straw or bark, protects the soil from harsh rain and wind and suppresses weed growth. Cover crops, like mustard or lupins, can also be sown to improve soil health over winter.

Winter is a great time to identify garden intruders while surrounding plants are dormant. Regular inspection and removal are key to keeping your garden healthy. One weed control challenge for my garden in Ōrewa is managing woolly nightshade (Solanum mauritianum/Tobacco weed). This fast-growing pretty, purple flowering pest plant is a serious ecological threat in the Auckland region. Recognisable by its velvety leaves and pale purple flowers, woolly nightshade spreads quickly and outcompetes native vegetation. 

To manage woolly nightshade, remove young plants before they flower and seed. Hand-pulling is effective for seedlings, but larger plants may require cutting and treating the stump with herbicide to prevent regrowth. It spreads very easily; I pull at least 10 seedlings a week out of my garden. You can recognise it by the tobacco smell it gives off when you pull it out. Make sure you wear gloves and a mask as its fine hairs can irritate skin and lungs. Avoid composting and dispose of it via green waste collection or at designated council facilities. For more resources on managing woolly nightshade, visit the Auckland Council’s pest plant guide or contact your local community garden group.

Once that’s done, give your greenhouse a good clean-out and wash any pots so they’re ready for the spring growing season ahead. You can still enjoy fresh produce through the colder months. Continue harvesting herbs and sowing cool-season greens like lettuce, kale, spinach, and brassicas. While growth will be slower, a sunny winter spot will reward you with a steady supply of homegrown goodness.