Winter Food Gardening in Tarntanya (Adelaide) South Australia • Folk of all Trades

Planning for a winter garden should start in summer by thinking about the seasons and planning your crops. Make a basic plan to avoid planting the same family of plants in the same bed season after season to prevent pests and diseases. Consider early, mid, and late planting to stagger harvests and avoid having too much of one crop ready at once.

It's important not to plant the same family of plants in the same bed continually because this can lead to a buildup of pests and diseases. Instead, rotate the plant families to maintain soil health and reduce the likelihood of these issues.

When growing from seeds, it's important to think about how many plants you want to grow and if you have the seeds. Growing from seeds allows you to select varieties that work well in your region, and seeds should be planted in clean containers with a bit of damp potting mix. Don't forget to label the seeds with the plant name and date. Keep freshly planted seeds damp but not too wet, and provide sunlight once they germinate.

Over winter, evaporation is less of a concern, so mulching isn't as necessary. Not mulching can actually benefit the soil by allowing it to stay warmer due to the dark color of the soil absorbing more light.

Giving plants like broccoli enough space allows them to grow without competing with each other. This space is essential for the plants to generate enough energy to produce large heads. A 45 centimeter spacing is considered ideal to allow the plants to grow sufficiently.

It can be beneficial to add gypsum to help improve heavy clay soil structure and add calcium if deficient. Additionally, adding a pelletised fertiliser can provide essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that plants need to grow. Adding homemade compost is also helpful as a soil conditioner and food for soil microbes, though it may not be rich in certain nutrients.

Not incorporating organic material like compost directly into the soil prevents it from robbing nitrogen as microorganisms break it down. By leaving the material on the surface, it serves as a continual food source for soil organisms, which can improve soil health over time without the need for tillage.