SOW

> Rocket is an indispensable green for the winter garden. Its peppery flavour will add interest (and a big dollop of nutrition) to salads, casseroles, sauces etc. Don’t forget that the flowers and seed are edible too. Easy to grow, sow rocket in the garden or in pots if soil is wet, heavy and cold.

> If your garden is warm and sheltered sow silverbeet for a continual supply right through to spring when you can expand your range of leafy greens. Sow seed 2cm deep into the garden or in punnets for planting out when seedlings are established (particularly in colder areas).

> South Americans and those in the Deep South of the US love collards, but they’re not grown much here. They should be as they are said to have unique cholesterol-lowering and anti-colon cancer properties. Sow now for a spring harvest, either into the ground or into trays of seedraising mix for planting out later. Cook as for kale. > Not all of us like to grow veges in winter but rather than let vege beds fill with weeds, sow a green manure crop which can then be dug into the soil in spring. Green manure crops not only keep weeds at bay, they help restore nutrients to over-worked soil and act as a mulch in cold areas when they die down after frosts. Common crops are legumes, mustards, lupins, barley and oats. Kings Green Manure mix combines peas, oats and lupins (kingsseeds.co.nz).

> For those who like to experiment try directsowing black radish. Not as peppery as summer radishes, this Spanish variety has a black skin and white succulent flesh that’s lovely in soups, stews or salads. It matures in 60 days.

> Swedes are a much underrated root vege. Sow in rows 38-45cm apart from now until weather warms up, in a sunny spot. When large enough to handle, thin out seedlings to 25cm apart.