Autumn is famously known for its falling leaves. But for us, autumn is the season of leafy green vegetables! With the days getting colder, now is the time to plant broccoli, cabbage and spinach for those wholesome winter soups and broths. Are you ready to put your green fingers to work? If so, grab a jacket and let’s plant some leafy greens. (Explore Wonder plant nutrition online.)
Leafy greens for a bountiful winter harvest:
1. Broccoli
Frost-tolerant broccoli grows much faster than other Brassicas. If you plant seedlings in autumn, the mature plants should be ready for harvest just six weeks after planting!
Broccoli planting guide and care tips:
- Find a sunny spot in your vegetable garden with well-drained soil.
- Depending on the soil quality, turn rich compost into the top layer. If you live in an area with high rainfall, ensure the compost is aged so it supplements the nitrogen that gets washed away (we suggest you do this for the below veggies too). Wonder Vita-Boost Organic Vermicompost is an excellent choice for this step.
- Next, apply Wonder Plant Starter All Purpose and mix thoroughly to further nourish the soil. This product provides a sustained release of nitrogen and encourages strong, luscious plant growth.
- Dig holes about 50cm deep and 50cm apart from one another, planting one seedling in each.
- Add mulch around the base of your broccoli plants to keep them moist.
- Water the plants deeply while avoiding the ‘heads’ (to prevent pests).
- Halfway through the growing season, apply Wonder Plant Booster All Purpose for an extra kick of nutrients.
2. Cabbage
Cabbages are hardy leafy greens, tolerating below freezing temperatures. Seedlings planted at this time of year can take about eight weeks to reach maturity – so get planting quick!
Cabbage planting guide and care tips:
- Find a spot in your garden that receives full sun and has well-drained soil (perhaps where you planted your broccoli?)
- Prepare the soil with rich compost (Wonder Vita-Boost Organic Vermicompost), and mix in a soil acidity regulator to ensure it is more on the alkaline side. Try Wonder Agricultural Lime for this step – it raises the pH of acid soils and helps prevent calcium deficiency.
- Cabbages also benefit from an all-purpose fertiliser, so be sure to apply Wonder Plant Starter All Purpose before planting.
- Dig holes about 85cm deep and 85cm apart from one another, planting one seedling in each.
- Water the plants regularly, ensuring they always have sufficient space to grow.
- Halfway through the growing season, apply Wonder Plant Booster All Purpose for an extra kick of nutrients.
3. Spinach
What would green smoothies be without spinach? Taking just 60 days to grow from seed to fully mature plant, if you plant yours today you should be guaranteed an ample supply for winter.
Spinach planting guide and care tips:
- Find a sunny or partially shaded area in your veggie garden that has well-drained soil.
- Turn rich, aged compost (Wonder Vita-Boost Organic Vermicompost) into the top layer.
- Next, apply Wonder Plant Starter All Purpose and mix thoroughly to further nourish the soil.
- Dig holes about 20cm deep and 20cm apart from one another, planting one seed in each.
- Add mulch around the base of your spinach plants to keep them moist, watering regularly.
- In late winter, feed the plants with a water-soluble plant food, like Wonder Kelp. This product stimulates plant growth and increases root and shoot masses.
Will you plant some leafy greens this season?
Get your vegetable garden winter-ready with lush leafy greens. We’ve got the plant nutrition products you need to grow broccoli, cabbage and spinach like professional gardeners. Click here to discover our full range of fertilisers and plant foods.
