By planting before it gets frosty, you will find that you get some good growth with the warmer day temperatures and ultimately, a better harvest down the line.
As you pull out the last of your summer crops that are ending, always prepare the soil to replace the nutrients used up with the last harvest.
Veggies love loads of organic matter and home-grown organic veggies taste better than organic, store-bought vegetables.
Traditionally the best time of the year for root crops, one can also add some leafy greens to the winter harvest.
As gardens have become smaller and more protected, it has become easier to grow top crops too. If your veggie patch is exposed to the elements and covers in heavy frost, choose root crops first. But if not, it’s time to experiment.
Grow some Kale.
Kale is a popular vegetable and is a member of the cabbage family. Kale is loaded with all sorts of beneficial compounds, some of which have powerful medicinal properties. That’s why it is referred to as the ultimate super-food in many online articles.
Kale has a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and appears to block the growth of cancer cells.
It has been found to contain a group of resins which have been shown to lower cholesterol and decrease the absorption of dietary fat.
Sow kale in a sunny spot and harvest the leaves from the outer edges, leaving the main plant. This will give you a harvest that will go on for months. Add the leaves to your breakfast smoothies or even make kale chips.
Peas anyone?
Right up to the first frosts, one can plant peas. Peas grow as climbers so will need to be supported by a few bamboo sticks or up a trellis, or on a Pea net against a wall.
Best in full sun, or you might find them not producing and susceptible to mildew. Peas will grow up to two meters high.
Plant your seeds after soaking them in water for a few hours which will speed up germination. They do best in a rich soil with extra compost and should be fed regularly to keep them strong.
Pick the first few flowers before they form seeds (peas) so that the plant puts more energy into establishing.
Once the peas start forming, pick regularly because the more you pick the more you’ll get. Young peas can be eaten with the shell but to get traditional peas, let them fatten up on the bush and then split the shells to harvest fresh peas.
Peas will start bearing through July and can easily keep going until the end of October if the plants are well fed.
Planting tips
When planting your veggie garden, dig over the beds, removing weeds and stones and breaking down any lumps.
Always incorporate generous amounts of compost, rake and then water thoroughly before planting. The addition of the organic fertiliser helps them grow stronger cell walls which will mean less insect susceptibility and more importantly, more taste.
Feed every six to eight weeks.
The increased interest in edible landscaping has seen the introduction of colourful new varieties of vegetables, making possible many beautiful and interesting plant combinations.
Vegetables provide a feast of flavour, colour, texture, fragrance and are no longer the second thought in the garden.
r Information courtesy of Eckards Garden Pavilion.
