How to Grow Winter Vegetables

There are many winter vegetables you can grow successfully throughout the colder months.
Most are relatively easy to grow, such as silverbeet, brussel sprouts, broad beans, broccoli and other brassicas like cabbage and cauliflower. Spinach is also popular and grows best in cooler weather. You can either grow your winter vegetables from seed in trays indoors and plant out later (read our Daltons Growing from Seed Guide) or buy the seedlings you want from your local garden centre and plant them directly into the garden – follow the guide below for ideal planting times.

Planting

When planning the planting positions of vegetables in your garden allow enough room between plants for air circulation and garden maintenance like weeding. Regardless of what you decide to grow, your garden site and soil preparation are critical to its success. If you are planting your first garden, choose a site that is north facing, not too windy or exposed and the soil should ideally be deep, loose, crumbly, free draining and nutrient rich – you want to avoid having waterlogged soil over the winter months. 

  1. To prepare your garden bed for planting, firstly remove any dead or old plants and weeds. Always take out any diseased summer crops and remove them from the property as you don’t want diseases re-infecting your winter crops. 

  2. Evenly apply a generous layer of Garden Time Compost or Daltons Organic Compost and thoroughly work it into the soil. 

  3. As a guide, try and work it in to approximately 1 ½ spade depth. This ensures that the soil has been fully aerated and the compost has been mixed thoroughly with the existing soil, improving organic matter, nutrient content and microbial activity. For best results do this about one to two weeks before planting so the soil is well aerated. This is especially important if you have just taken old crops out as these would have taken a lot of the good nutrients from the soil. 

  4. If growing in raised planters or gardens, fill up the site with either Daltons Premium Garden Mix or Daltons Garden TimeTM Vegetable Mix 

  5. Apply a very light layer of mulch around vegetable seedlings, as a thick layer can lead to cold wet soils in winter.


Growing Vegetables in Pots
If you have limited space you can successfully grow winter vegetables in pots or containers; try silverbeet, spinach, broccoli, peas and winter lettuce. The advantage of containers means you can grow veggies in close proximity to your house for easy access and use.

When selecting pots or containers to plant in, ensure they are of adequate size and depth and always use good quality container mix such as Daltons Garden TimeTM Vegetable Mix. These special mixes contain well balanced, slow-release nutrients and have moisture-retaining qualities. It’s a good idea to change the soil in pots or containers every time you want to grow a new crop, as it can get depleted. Alternatively, you can revive old soil with Daltons Premium Vege & Herb Fertiliser. Position your pots or containers in a warm sunny, north facing position, away from strong winds. Add a layer of Daltons Premium Mulch & Grow on top for improved moisture retention.


Top Planting Tips

  • Stagger your plantings (succession planting) every two to three weeks to provide continuous harvesting over the coming months.

  • Use jars or plastic bottles to put over seedlings and protect them at night. Make your own using old hula-hoops (cut in half) and a cover with a frost cloth or even bubble wrap! Remember to remove covers in the morning.

  • Some insects and birds devour tender seedlings so keep them protected. Children can help make slug/snail beer traps by digging a small hole in the soil just big enough for a saucer or jar to fit snugly with the lip of the jar level with the ground. An adult can fill the jar with ½ cup of beer; the slugs and snails are attracted to the sweet liquid and will fall into the trap and drown.

Feeding and Watering

Winter vegetables tend to be more hardy and feeding and watering is not as important if you prepared your soil well before planting.

Good soil preparation means there should be enough nutrients in your soil to get your vegetables through the winter months. Unlike summer vegetables, winter vegetables need less feeding, and only really require a side dressing of Daltons Garden TimeTM Vegetable Mix during the early months of the plant getting established e.g. April/May. Always ensure you water the fertiliser in well. Add a layer of Daltons Premium Mulch & Grow on top for improved moisture retention.

Garden Maintenance

With any vegetable garden try to have good garden practices that include garden hygiene such as cleaning up any dead leaves or foliage, and regular weeding. This helps to keep pests and diseases at bay. 

Empty Beds
If you are not planting any vegetables during winter, don’t let beds sit empty and exposed to the weather. Instead, sow a ‘green crop’ to add nutrients into the soil and protect beds over winter. Green crops help improve soil structure and provide organic Nitrogen naturally. Sow common lupin and mustard directly into the soil - our friends Kings Seeds have a fantastic of Ground Cover Crops. Once your crop has grown 30cm and before they flower, pull up the plants and chop them into pieces with a spade, then dig them back into the soil. Leave them to break down in the soil for 6-8 weeks before you plant anything new. 

Pests and Diseases

In general, winter vegetables tend to be pest and disease free because of the colder temperatures.
But in northern parts of New Zealand hungry slugs and snails can be a problem in your winter garden. Protect plants with non-toxic pet and child friendly slug/snail pellets, or try organic alternatives such as beer traps, and surrounding plants with crushed shell, bark, propagation sand or saw dust. 

How to Make a Beer Trap
Some insects and birds devour tender seedlings so keep them protected. Children can help make slug/snail beer traps by digging a small hole in the soil just big enough for a saucer or jar to fit snugly with the lip of the jar level with the ground. An adult can fill the jar with ½ cup of beer; the slugs and snails are attracted to the sweet liquid and will fall into the trap and drown.

Regional Planting Guide

Vegetable Planting and harvesting (Warmer Climate) Planting and Harvesting (Cooler Climate)
Broad Beans Planting: Sowing direct: March-June.
Harvesting: From August-October.
Planting: Sowing direct: March-June.
Harvesting: From August-October.
Broccoli Planting: Sow in seed trays from early March, and plant out in garden from April-May. 
Harvesting: July/August.
Planting: Sow in seed trays from late February, and plant out in garden from late March-mid May. 
Harvesting: July/August.
Brussels 
Sprouts

*Grows better in colder climates
Planting: Sow in seed trays from mid/late January, and plant out in garden from April-May. 
Harvesting: July/August.
Planting: Sow in seed trays from mid/late February plant out in garden from April-May.
Harvesting: July/August.
Cauliflower Planting: Sow in seed trays from mid/late January and plant out in garden from March-April.
Harvesting: July/August.
Planting: Sow in seed trays from mid/late January and plant out in garden from March-April.
Harvesting: July/August.
Carrots Planting: Direct sow anytime of the year.
Harvesting: Throughout the year.
Planting: Direct sow anytime of the year.
Harvesting: Throughout the year.
Kale (brocole)  Planting: Sow in seed trays from mid/late January and plant out in garden from March-April.
Harvesting: July/August.
Planting: Sow in seed trays from mid/late January and plant out in garden from March-April.
Harvesting: July/August.
Leeks
*Can be grown all year round
Planting: Plant all year round. Sow in seed trays 6 weeks before planting.
Harvesting: 3 months after planting.
Planting: Plant all year round. Sow in seed trays 6 weeks before planting.
Harvesting: 3 months after planting.
Onions Planting: Sow direct all year round.
Harvesting: 8-12 weeks after planting.
Planting: Sow direct all year round.
Harvesting: 8-12 weeks after planting.
Pak Choy/Bok Choy
(Asian greens) 
*Can be grown all year round
Planting: Sow in seed trays from mid/late January and plant out in garden from March-May.
Harvesting: 4-6 weeks after planting.
Planting: Sow in seed trays from mid/late January and plant out in garden from March-May.
Harvesting: 4-6 weeks after planting.
Peas Planting: Sow direct in garden April/May.
Harvesting: 12 weeks after planting.
Planting: Sow direct in garden April/May.
Harvesting: 12 weeks after planting.
Potato 
*Warm areas only
Planting: All year round. 
Harvesting: 4-5 months from planting.
Planting: All year round. 
Harvesting: 4-5 months from planting.
Silverbeet 
(Swiss Chard) 
*Can be grown all year round
Planting: Sow in seed trays from mid/late January (for winter crops) plant out in garden from March/April.
Harvesting: Throughout winter.
Planting: Sow in seed trays from mid/late January (for winter crops) plant out in garden from March/April.
Harvesting: Throughout winter.
Spinach
*Can be grown all year round
Planting: Sow in seed trays from mid/late January (for winter crops) plant out in garden from March/April.
Harvesting: Throughout winter.
Planting: Sow in seed trays from mid/late January (for winter crops) plant out in garden from March/April.
Harvesting: Throughout winter.
Swede *Cold regions only Planting: Sow direct in garden April/May.
Harvesting: Throughout winter (approx 12-14 weeks after planting).
Turnip *Cold regions only Planting: Sow direct in garden April/May.
Harvesting: Throughout winter (approx 12-14 weeks after planting).
Parsnip Planting: Sow direct in garden all year round.
Harvesting: All year round.
Planting: Sow direct in garden all year round.
Harvesting: All year round.
Beetroot
*Can be grown all year round
Planting: Sow direct in garden April/May (for winter crops).
Harvesting: 8-10 weeks after sowing.
Planting: Sow direct in garden April/May (for winter crops).
Harvesting: 8-10 weeks after sowing.
What vegetables you plant and when will depend on the area you live in. Always check that the variety you purchase is suited to your climate. 

 

Gardening Terms Explained

Green crops The growing of a cover crop that will be dug back into the soil to improve soil quality. They are useful if you have empty garden beds, particularly over winter.
Hardy vegetables These are vegetables that are tolerant of colder temperatures and grow best in this environment.
Harvest  To pick or collect the produce you have grown e.g. fruit and vegetables etc.
Mulching A top layer of organic matter so the soil and plant are protected. 
Side dressing Means to apply fertiliser to the soil on or around the sides of the plant. 
Soil aeration Digging over soil to promote the movement of air and moisture through it. In particularly heavy soils you can add compost to help promote aeration of the soil.
Succession planting Staggering your plantings or planting varieties so you do not have them all cropping at once.