Winter shifts the pace of the garden, but doesn’t stop it. This season is less about growth, more about care – a few simple tasks that keep things moving and bring the focus a little closer to home.
Bring growing indoors
Pots come into their own in winter. They can be moved, sheltered and positioned for light, making them one of the simplest ways to keep things thriving through the colder months.
Herbs, seedlings and bulbs all respond well to some TLC indoors. A cluster of herbs pots (such as basil, chives, oregano) on a sunny windowsill is handy for cooking. A tray of seedlings – think chillies, coriander and spring onions – keeps growth ticking over while the garden lies dormant, ready for transplanting when the weather warms up.
Outside, pots can also be used more deliberately – pots of colourful bloom such as pansies or viola, hellebores or lobelia, placed in sunnier parts of the deck or near doorways, can bring a burst of joyous colour on gloomy days.
Replenish the soil
Although all might seem relatively quiet above ground, the soil is most definitely still active. And winter is one of the best times to improve your all-important soil.
Mulching and composting helps to build structure and moisture retention, giving plants a stronger start in spring. It’s slower work – spreading, layering, letting things break down – but it’s also some of the most vital.
The idea is to weed first, then add a boost to the soil with goodness like worm casings, compost, sheep pellets or seaweed. Following that, mulch with pea straw, autumn leaves or woodchip.
This is the groundwork season. What’s added now will benefit everything that shows up later.
Garden to table
Brassicas, root vegetables and hardy greens flourish in winter – and sometimes it’s easy to get low on inspiration and enthusiasm when the crop just keeps going (we’re looking at you, silverbeet). Make sure you still get outdoors and pick them at their peak!
Warming comfort food is the order of the day – soups, roasts and slow-cooked meals that make use of what’s on hand. Larger harvests, like pumpkins, are best cooked in batches to avoid waste. A pot of soup for the freezer can be a saviour on hectic nights.
It’s also a good excuse to gather people. A mid-winter meal, built around what’s in the garden, is an easy way to share the surplus. Perhaps your guests could even leave with some fresh veggies…
Try this leek, pumpkin & ricotta soup or this lemon coconut loaf.
A season for planning
Winter is the time to get some planting in the ground for next season. Bare-root trees and roses are at their best now, going in while dormant and establishing before spring growth begins. It’s also the time to plant citrus trees, berries and deciduous fruit trees.
But not every winter gardening task happens outdoors. Some are best done from a cosy spot inside, with a hot drink, where you can revisit planting notes, flick through favourite garden books and make plans for the structure of your spring garden. For inspiration, see our July planting guide.
