Garden bedtime

As the horticulturalist’s saying goes, it’s time to put your vegetable garden to bed for winter.

Essentially, this means to let your garden rest – which is a common practice in Christchurch due to our cooler climate. Doing so achieves stronger soil structure and rejuvenation through microbial activity, for better growing when warm weather returns.

Plants absorb the nutrients within soil to grow into a bountiful harvest, so utilise the off-season to replace that prosperous environment.
Ahead of spring, use a planting calendar to plan your garden and growing goals – remembering diseases can harbour in soil, so rotating crops is critical.

Clean up and compost
Remove dead plants and unwanted matter from gardenbeds – ensuring any diseased plants go in your green bin, instead of contaminating your compost. Trusting your compost has been well aerated and turned over often, work this into your soil to restore nutrients.

Protect plants from winter
Tender plants or non-hardy varieties might require extra care from frosts or harsh weather, so consider protecting them with frost cloths
or pea straw.

Prepare soil for spring
Feed fertiliser and organic matter into the soil to encourage a thriving soil ecosystem. Insulate your soil, retain moisture and suppress weeds with mulch, and maintain regular watering to soak the soil.