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Winter planting

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  • #4171
    Liz
    Participant

    My vege garden is in a raised bed and is now home to weeds and one relentless chilli plant. I’m ready to get back to the garden but not sure what to plant this time of year in Tauranga, NZ. Oh and the area gets no sun at all this time of year 😆 should I just leave it until spring or plant a green crop or….?

    #4176
    Elle Reed
    Keymaster

    Hey Liz!

    Awesome to hear you’re ready to get back into your garden (you’re not the only person with a chilli plant going strong this year!)
    Since your garden isn’t getting any sun at the moment, traditional veggies might struggle. However, there are a few vegetables that can tolerate low light conditions:

    – Leafy Greens: Spinach, kale, and Swiss chard/silverbeet can grow with limited sunlight (I grow silverbeet & kale year round!)
    – Herbs: Mint, parsley, and coriander do well in shady areas.
    – Root Vegetables: Beets and radishes can tolerate some shade, though they prefer a bit more light.

    If you prefer not to plant veggies now, you could consider a green manure crop like mustard or lupin. These crops will enrich your soil, suppress weeds, and be ready to turn over in spring to prepare for your main planting season.

    Alternatively, you could mulch the bed heavily to keep the weeds at bay and let it rest until the warmer, sunnier months arrive. This approach saves you some work now and adds nutrients to your soil.

    Let me know what you decide to do, or better yet, post a picture!

    • This reply was modified 3 months, 1 week ago by Elle Reed.
    #4205
    CamillaMorrison
    Participant

    Hi Liz!

    Being in an extremely sunny and hot climate myself, this is not usually my issue but I’ve had a few low-light problem spots over the years between the house wall and side fence or behind a shed. When trying to plant in these areas, your best bet is to look at nature.

    Think of a place that’s always cloudy and a bit cold. What pops up and thrives? I imagine the Pacific Northwest with its woods full of ferns, big leafy plants like hostas and small leafy edible greens like soft arugula. I’ve also had the best luck with oregano, thyme, mint and sage in these shady spots, so think herby-herbs! Dill and basil tolerate sun and heat a bit better, but dill starts delicately, so might be worth a shot there too!

    #4210
    Navkiran Dhaliwal
    Participant

    Struggled with the same issue – low sunlight.

    So, I replaced all my herb plants with these:

    – Parsley
    – Mint
    – Cilantro
    – Chives
    – Oregano
    – Dill

    Because they can grow in low light conditions also.

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