Cool season vegies
Winter is a great time to plant cool season vegies in the vegie patch, and if you haven’t got one already, why not set one up? Choose a position that is sunny and free from the root competition of trees and large shrubs. If you have good soil, simply add compost and plant straight into the ground, however if not, consider using raised or wicking beds, or grow in large pots.
Although there are many vegies to choose from, my top 5 easy-to-grow vegies for beginners that can be planted now are combo lettuces, rocket, spring onion, silver beet or rainbow chard, and broccoli. Other varieties that can be planted now for great success include dwarf peas, spinach, parsley, coriander, cauliflower, potatoes and herbs such as thyme and marjoram. If you haven’t already got them, add some perennial vegies like rhubarb and asparagus, and you will enjoy them for decades to come.
Roses
Few plants reward us with as much colour and interest as the rose, and with new season’s bare rooted roses in store now, it’s the best time to add some new roses to your garden. Available in a huge range of colours, many with intoxicating scents, you can choose from miniatures, bush roses, standards and climbers. Choose from latest releases to old fashioned favourites, there is a rose to suit any sunny position in your garden.
Fruit trees ripe for the picking
Nothing beats the flavour and satisfaction that comes from picking ripe fruit off your own trees and the costs savings on your grocery bills are huge. Many fruit varieties will start fruiting in a year or two, and there are sizes to suit all spaces, from big backyards courtyards and balconies. So, plant now for a bountiful return on your investment, after all what else can you spend money on that gets bigger and better year after year, and provides delicious, nutrient dense produce.
Winter Warmups
Winter is a great time to get out and be active in your garden. The reality is that in Adelaide and many parts of South Australia, we have more good days than bad, and this lets us be outside in our gardens having fun. The great thing about gardening in winter is the ground is damp and easy to dig, so prepare for new plantings by working through organic matter such as compost and aged manures, and then plant. Other winter jobs include pruning roses, fruit trees and grape vines, doing a general winter tidy up and prune so everything looks great in spring, wiping out weeds, and topping up the mulch. Now is also the time to transplant deciduous plants such as roses, shrubs and small fruit or ornamental trees.
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