It’s time to get the garden ready because winter is coming

• Published date: 10 March 2022
• Publication title: Taupo Weekender

As the leaves turn golden, gardeners prepare for the transition. It is time to preserve the excess produce and prepare garden beds for the cooler months

Garden Maintenance

■ Pull out the vegetables as they die off.

■ Look out for slugs.

■ Clean up continues: trim hedges, mow lawns, keep the weeds out.

■ Lift and divide clumps of perennials.

Edible garden

Brassicas thrive this season; broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower. If you would like some variety, try adding beetroot. You may also want to consider planting onions, carrots or leeks where you had brassicas last year.

Move the brassicas into a new bed with good quality soil. Brassicas are heavy feeders and they need well-draining soil. Space brassica varieties about 50cm apart.

If you have limited garden space, growing cabbages in about 30-35L containers could be your option. You may plant about five cabbages in a 35L container. Try planting spring onions in the same container as a great companion plant for cabbages.

If you have an abundance of tomatoes or zucchinis, it’s now a good time to start preserving them (eg tomato or zucchini relish).

Flower garden

Keep your flower garden blooming with beautiful stock flowers. They...