Auckland Botanic gardens

If you're new to gardening or just want to explore growing a winter vegetable patch, our Edible Garden curator Angela Anstis shares her favourite crops for a hearty, colourful, and versatile winter harvest. Here’s what you can grow and why it’s worth adding these vegetables to your garden:

‘Space Saver’ Cabbage: Ideal for small spaces, these compact cabbages are perfect for the home garden. Their smaller size means you can fit more in the garden bed and they can be harvested fresh for a or coleslaw or thrown in a stir-fry.

Beetroot 'Bonny Baby': A smaller beetroot variety that pairs well with other root vegetables in a roast. Enjoy its rich colour and flavour as a winter staple. It’s smaller size is great for the home garden.

Kale: A year-round favourite that's especially valuable in winter for its hearty, leafy greens. Kale is nutritious and adds a fresh burst to winter salads.

Celery and turnip: Essential ingredients for winter soups. Celery provides that distinct flavour, while turnip gives heartiness to soups and stews.

Rainbow chard: Adds a beautiful splash of colour to winter dishes. It’s great for stir-fries or simply sautéed.

Savoy cabbage: Plant now to be ready in spring. It will steadily grow through the colder months and be perfectly ready for spring harvesting.

Strawberry spinach: An unusual yet delightful leafy green with mild flavoured leaves and red berries.

Mustard greens: Their spicy kick is perfect for making pesto with a bit of heat.

Kohlrabi: An easy-to-grow crop with versatile uses. Slice it raw for a salad, stir-fry it, or add to soup. The leaves are edible, and kids often enjoy it without realizing what they're eating.

Edible flower – Chrysanthemum carinatum 'Snowland': Adds a delicate and attractive touch to salads.

Milano fennel: A bulbing fennel variety that is great raw in salads, just slice it thinly (and add the leaves for their distinctive flavour).

Red kimchi cabbage: Use the leaves to wrap rice and tuna for a nutritious meal.

Winter lettuce 'Cool Season': A new variety that Angela is experimenting with this year.

Endives: Slightly bitter, but pairs well with cheeses or quince jam.

Mizuna: Angela is growing two varieties of this easy to grow leafy green. It's great for fresh winter salads.

You can find seeds for these vegetables through the Kings or Egmont Seeds catalogues. Growing your own winter vegetables brings vibrant colours, fresh flavours, and delicious nourishment to your meals, making your garden an enjoyable and productive space during the colder months.