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Being well into autumn with colder weather progressing and most of the staple crops harvested, many gardeners see this time of year as a time to snuggle up in the warmth of home and feast on the fruits of their labour. The source of this bounty is left to rest until spring when all the hard work begins again. Fair enough, you've worked hard and the veggie garden has been generous but is it really time to rest. You won't be surprised when I say no.
There are still crops to harvest and to plant in the colder months. Pumpkins should be left until the stem (the vine) joining the fruit has thoroughly dried out. Then harvest them, leaving as much of the stem as possible still attached. If the stem is removed completely the pumpkin will begin to rot from that point. Pumpkins harvested correctly can be safely stored for up to a year.
Don't harvest all of your carrots when they reach an edible size. They can be left in the ground and harvested when needed. Pick any remaining carrots in spring before they go to seed.
English spinach seeds can be sown throughout the colder months and will supply you with a regular addition to your salad through winter and into early spring. Sow spinach seeds in drills 30cm apart and thin seedlings to about 20cm. Regular foliar feeds will keep the spinach moving.
Silver beet is another superb green vegetable to last you through winter. Though it's probably too late to plant any more seedlings I think I'll still give it a try. The seedlings might take off if provided with a mild changeover from autumn to winter along with plenty of loving attention.
Brassicas can be mulched with compost and kept moving through winter with weak foliar feeds. Ground can be prepared now for planting onions and garlic in about July/August. It's also a perfect time to sow broad beans.
Organic waste from harvested crops, remaining mulch from the vegetable garden, and straw from the potato crop (grown under straw) should be gathered together and composted with lawn clippings, prunings, weeds and manure. The compost will give your next spring plantings a great kick-start.