Winter is coming: Tammy Huynh's expert gardening tips for cooler months

Gardens are a year-round proposition, so there’s still plenty to do and rewards to reap if you follow a few simple tips.

Beat the chill

It’s tempting to retreat indoors when the temperature dips. But gardening and spending time outdoors should extend well beyond the warmer months. With a little bit of planning, you can continue to garden, and grow yourself a bumper crop too.

Growing opportunities

There are plenty of herbs and veggies you can plant now to enjoy throughout the cooler months, and it doesn’t matter whether you have a backyard or balcony.

In either location, aim for a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight.

Here, you can sow seeds of beetroot, broad beans, carrots, kale, leeks, radish and peas (climbing and dwarf forms). And, in all but the coolest areas, there’s still time to sow broccoli seeds. In mid to late winter, plant rhubarb and asparagus crowns.

For areas with only three to four hours of direct sun, it’s still possible to grow herbs and leafy greens. Try bok choy, coriander, dill, spinach, lettuce, mint, rocket, silverbeet, tatsoi and winter savory.

If your space is mostly devoid of sunlight, consider growing herbs and veggies indoors. There are various kitchen benchtop systems that are available with built-in UV grow lights, providing an artificial light source and enabling a fresh, year-round supply of herbs and veg.

Going to ground

Healthy plants start with healthy soil. Before planting, remove weeds and incorporate compost, aged manures or slow-release organic fertilisers into the soil.

If you find the soil drains poorly – for example, if it’s mostly made of heavy clay – consider planting into raised beds filled with a garden soil mix.

If planting in pots, choose a premium-quality potting mix. This usually contains additives to boost and support plant growth.

Whether planting in a plot or pot, ensure that you mulch around young plants with an organic product, like sugar cane mulch or pea straw.

This conserves soil moisture, suppresses weed growth and keeps the soil warm. Apply a layer about 10 centimetres thick around beds and pots.

Buy now, bloom later

Now is also a great time to prepare planting areas for deciduous trees and shrubs. In winter, plants such as roses and both ornamental and edible deciduous trees are dormant and can be dug up and sold without the need for pots and potting mix.

They resemble a bunch of sticks now, but they’re significantly cheaper than potted plants of the same variety, and there is a greater range of plant types and cultivars than you can normally access (especially via mail order), making them a worthwhile buy!

They will be available in nurseries soon and it’s ideal to get them into the ground once bought. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and dig in compost and aged manures.

Embrace the cold

Cold-tender plants, like young seedlings, will require a form of frost protection.

If a cold snap is forecast, cover plants with horticultural fleece or frost cloth. Even an old blanket or towel will do, but just remember to remove all coverings in the morning.

Watering the night before will help keep them warm, too.

Tammy Huynh is a horticulturist, a presenter on Gardening Australia and the owner of Leaf an Impression.