On a scale from one to snowed in, South African winters are pretty mild. Which means winter gardening is actually a thing for South Africans, and in fact, the cooler months here in Africa are actually considered the best times to start a veggie garden. Whether you’re looking to start a flourishing veggie garden or just want to grow a few delicious fresh ingredients on your balcony, there are plenty of seeds that thrive in cooler temperatures. Here are our top 3 picks for the best vegetable seeds to plant in winter.
Broccoli:
Forget simple, boring boiled broccoli, these days, broccoli is the star of the show! For a more modern take on this delicious vegetable, try it grilled with olive oil and sea-salt, sautéed in an Asian style stir-fry or even as the anchor ingredient to a four-cheese gratin. For something a little bit different, consider growing Purple Sprouting broccoli. Used as a staple for many Asian dishes (both raw in salads or cooked as a side to your main attraction), this delicious broccoli is best sown in temps between 10 – 20 degrees.
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Radishes:
While most of us are comfortable eating this root vegetable grated and raw in a salad, the truth is there’s so much more to this delicious vegetable. For something new and oh-so-delicious, try grilling your radishes on the braai with a generous layer of butter or oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. The radish is a great starter steed for newbie gardeners as the seeds germinate quickly, grow rapidly, and thrive in cooler temperatures. What’s more, radish is also useful as a companion plant to other veggies in the patch because of its pungent odour that deters pests and insects.
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Kale:
Food trends come and go but kale is still going strong! From kale chips to shakes and juices, the possibilities with kale are seemingly endless. The great news is that you can always have a little bit of kale on hand to toss into salads or the odd smoothies as these seeds are easy to grow and thrive in cold temperatures.
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