Create A Winter Greens Garden

Winter greens are wonderful crops to plant in your garden for a continued supply of fresh homegrown veges over the cooler season.

Not only are they easy to grow but they can also be harvested a leaf at a time to add to your winter meals.

The Project: Create a Winter Greens Garden

What you will need:

Winter greens (lettuce, spinach, silverbeet, rocket, mizuna)

Garden bed or pots and containers

Tui Vegetable Mix

Tui Enrich Vege, Tomato & Herb Controlled Release Fertiliser

Tui Pea Straw Mulch

Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic

Tui Quash Slug & Snail Control

What you need to do:

Choose your winter greens: Pick varieties you like to eat and that suit your culinary needs. Lettuce, spinach, silverbeet, rocket and mizuna are some great options. If you're a first time gardener it may be easier to grow from seedlings rather than seeds, although seeds are a more economical option. Always check the packet instructions.

Plant:

1. Time to plant: The best times to plant are early in the morning or late in the day, so the plants aren't exposed to the hot sun straight away. Always water plants well before and after planting.
2. Planting in garden beds: if you have a garden bed, you can plant your winter greens there. Just follow our easy instructions and you'll have a great crop:
   1. Soak plants in a bucket of Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic and allow to drain. This will help prevent transplant shock and give your plants a healthy boost.
   2. Dig a hole, approximately twice the depth and width of the root ball of your plant.
   3. Partly fill the hole with Tui Vegetable Mix.
   4. Gently loosen the root ball of your plant and position the plant in the centre of the hole.
   5. Fill in with Tui Vegetable Mix.
   6. Press soil gently around the base of the plant.
   7. Water your plant well.
   8. Allow at least two hand spaces between each plant.
3. Planting in pots and containers: Pots and containers are a great for planting winter greens. Here's our easy steps on how to get started:
   1. Soak plants in a bucket of Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic and allow to drain. This will help prevent transplant shock and give your plants a healthy boost.
   1. Partly fill your container with Tui Vegetable Mix.
   2. Gently loosen the root ball of your plant and position the plant in the container.
   3. Fill your container with Tui Vegetable Mix up to 3cm from the top.
   4. Tap the container gently on the ground to settle the mix.
   5. Press soil gently around the base of the plant.
   6. Water your plant well.

Nourish:

1. Feed your plants and they will feed you. Plants use nutrients from the soil as they grow, so replenishing the nutrients ensures your plants grow to their full potential. Feed your plants in early spring and late summer with Tui Enrich Vege, Tomato & Herb Controlled Release Fertiliser.
2. A well-watered, well-nourished vegetable garden will have a better chance of keeping insect pests and diseases at bay.

Other Handy Tips:

1. The weather, weeds, pest insects and diseases can all impact on the success of your garden. Coming into winter it is important to protect your plants from the colder weather with layers of mulch like Tui Pea Straw Mulch.
2. Keep your garden weed free.
3. Be vigilant and stop unwanted insects and diseases from ruining your plants. Don't put up the welcome sign to the munch bunch of slugs and snails. These pests love coming for dinner in autumn, apply Tui Quash Slug & Snail Control every few weeks to protect your seedlings.

For more gardening inspiration and tips check out tuiproducts.co.nz.

Here are some delicious recipes to use up your winter greens:

• Roasted Vegetable Cannelloni
• Tomato, Chicken and Spinach Curry
• Baby Beets, Rocket and Pecan Salad
• Feta and Spinach Chickpea-Crusted Quiche
• Quick Basil and Tomato, Rocket and Smoked Salmon Pizzas
• Mediterranean Spring Power Salad
• Kiwi Chicken & Avocado Mayo Wraps
• Ultimate Beef Burger