Crops you can start in late winter

Not all spring crops can handle chilly temperatures, but plenty of our favourite crops benefit from starting ahead of time, especially if planted in protected conditions indoors, in a greenhouse, or under cover.

Some of the best crops to start in late winter include:

• Capsicum and chilli can be slow to germinate, so start them early.
• Eggplant are like capsicum and chilli which need a long season, so an early start will maximise your harvest.
• Cucumbers and zucchini are fast growers but benefit from being started in pots in late winter for a super-early harvest in spring.
• Pumpkin and melons can be sown indoors now, for early summer fruit.
• Basil loves warmth, so it’s ideal for indoor sowing now.
• Beetroot and silverbeet can be started early in punnets and pots.
• Tomatoes need warmth and are the classic crop for starting early indoors.
• Lettuce, rocket, mizuna can be started in punnets, or if you have some cover, you can start direct sowing these leafy greens in many areas.

Seeds vs seedlings

There’s no right or wrong here – it really depends on your time, space and confidence level but once you decide to give start your crops in late winter, consider the following:

• Starting from seed is more economical and offers a wider variety of choices, but it does take a bit of time and care.

• Buying seedlings is quicker and easier, especially for trickier crops, like capsicum or eggplant, and can lead you to even earlier harvests if they are available pre-season. However, nurseries might only stock a few basic varieties, and they sell fast once the season kicks in.

One crop you’ll definitely want to start now

You can start growing leafy greens, such as rocket and mizuna, indoors in multicell punnets. Here’s the basics they need:

Soil: Free-draining, moisture-retentive, fertile soil enriched with compost.
Sun: Full sun to part shade – benefit from afternoon shade in hot weather.
Sow: Start in multicell punnets and transplant at 3–4 leaf stage.
Plant: Space 20–30cm apart depending on type and growth habit.
Pests: Snails are common – use beer traps or organic, pet-safe snail pellets.
Feed: For lush growth, sprinkle blood and bone every 6 weeks and liquid feed with seaweed and fish emulsion fortnightly.

For more growing ideas and tips get a copy of our Early Spring issue (OG 159), available at selected newsagents and supermarkets. You can also subscribe and get a copy delivered to your door!