CHGC member Simon gives us the 'dirt' on growing winter vegetables.

1. Winter Vegetable Gardens
Preparation, What to Plant, What to Look Out For
Pearls of Wisdom, and More.

2. Winter Vegetables in
Coffs Harbour
• There’s nothing like a bountiful
winter vegetable harvest.
• Good range
• Pest free (relatively)
• Lots of healthy colour and fibre
• My personal favourites include
• Cauliflowers
• Broccoli
• Broccolini
• Beetroot
• Zucchinis
• But there are many other
vegetables that do well in our
warm winter climate.

3. The Summer Party Is
Over
• The summer vegetables are
all gone, and the weeds are
taking over.
• There’s an unsightly mess
of spent vegetable matter
in amongst a few moth
eaten tomatoes.
• Time to get to work!

4. Preparing the Winter Beds
• Remove all spent growth, but leave
any fibrous material such as surface
mulch
• Get the garden fork all the way in and
turn over the entire bed
• Break up any clods with the back of
the fork
• You can add soil at this stage
• Correct any “shrinkage”
• Did you know that Total Gardens sells
bulk Super Soil for $4 per 20 litre bucket?

5. Preparing the Winter Beds
• Add an all purpose fertiliser such as
Searles 5 in one
• $14.50 at Total Gardens per 30 litre bag
• Spread a quarter bag per M2
• Dynamic Lifter is just as good, but it’s
a bit hard on the bugle
• Add any well rotted compost you may
have, or the tailings from your worm
farm if you have one.
• Rake any/all of the above evenly over
your vegetable patch

6. Preparing the Winter Beds
• Use a hoe to dig in the fertiliser
and composted materials
• Break up any remaining clods
• Use a heavy metal rake to help
bring the light, fibrous material
to the surface
• Give the entire area a good
soaking, whilst you enjoy a
frosty cold beer

7. Preparing the Winter Beds
• Your garden bed should now
look good enough to eat.
• Let the bed lay fallow for at least
two weeks, and continue to give
it the occasional soak.
• Give it a final hoe and rake over
just prior to planting.

8. What and When to Plant
• Broccoli, Cauliflowers and Brussel
Sprouts are best grown from
seedlings, and prefer a fertile soil
that is slightly acidic.
• Don’t plant too early. I always
plant my winter seedlings on
ANZAC Day.
• Crop rotation should be
religiously followed, as Broccoli
and Cauliflower is susceptible to
a root borne problem called club
root.
• Don’t go back to the same bed
for at least three years

9. Other Planting Options
• Root vegetables such as Parsnips
and Beetroot do well over winter.
• I also favour growing some Spuds
and Rocket.
• Leeks do well, but are very slow
growing
• Runner or Dwarf Beans generally
do well, though pollination can
be an issue
• Zucchinis are a must, but only if
you have the space. Remember
to help the pollination process

10. What To Watch Out For
• Broccoli and Cauliflowers suffer
from the same pests and
diseases as cabbage.
• Watch out for the grubs of
cabbage moths and butterflies.
• Yates Success, an organically
derived caterpillar control, is
the best solution for these
pests.
• Manage snails and slugs with
Baysol or Blitzem.
• Use Confidor if you spot aphids.
• You can use Yates copper based
Fungus Fighter is you have
mildew leaf problems