Winter Vegetables

Today is the first official day of winter but this still doesn't stop the 'amateur' gardeners of Melbourne still having a go to grow food in their own garden. Although it is cold and it seems like nothing will survive; let alone thrive, there are vegetables out there that do tolerate these conditions quite well. In saying this, it still isn't easy growing healthy vegetables all year round. If you don't have the right knowledge of plants to grow and the correct gardening techniques most likely the crop will fail.

In order to have a vegetable crop that is full of life year round, even in the depths of winter, the most important thing u can do is select the best winter tolerant plants.

Typical Winter Vegetables are:
-Pisum sativum (peas)
-Spinacia oleracea (spinach)
-Allium cepa (onions)
-Lactucu sativa (lettuces)
-Ampeloprasum subsp. porrum (leeks)
-Asparagus officinalis (asparagus)
-Allium sativum (garlics)
-Beta vulgaris var. Crassa (Beetroot)
-Brassica oleracea (Broccoli)

All of these plant species listed above are vegetables that can be successfully grown in the harsh winter climate. It is with this information to an 'amateur' gardener that may save them the disappointment during winter when they realise that the summer vegetables they planted have died.

Growing vegetables in winter also comes with it benefits:
-Decreased evaporation
-Many plant pests and diseases aren't as active due to the cooler temperature
-Sunlight isn't as strong
-Generally increased rainfall

But it also comes with it negatives:
-Frost which can kill plants, especially younger ones
-Reduced sunlight may affect the plant's photosynthesis properties (slower growth)
-On some days there may be hardly any sun light at all

Growing vegetables in the winter may seem risky business. However with the right knowledge, preparation and maintenance anybody can enjoy the benefits of home grown vegetables throughout winter.