What to Sow Now + How to Protect Your Patch from Frost

Just because the temperatures have dropped doesn’t mean your garden has to take a total nap! Winter in Aotearoa can be a great time to slow down, prep for spring, and even plant a few hardy crops that love the cold.

If you're anything like me, your hands are still itching to get into the soil even if it's a bit chilly! Here's what you can plant now, how to protect your garden from frosts, and a few of my favourite TORA tools to make it all a little easier.

🌱 What to Sow Now (Yes, Even in Winter!)

Even when it's cold outside, there are still plenty of things you can get growing especially if you’re in a mild-to-cool climate or have a sunny corner of the garden.

Here’s what you can sow right now in trays or directly into garden beds:

• Broccoli (my personal favourite!) - hardy, frost-tolerant, and great for succession planting

• Garlic - pop a clove in now and harvest in spring/summer

• Broad beans - easy, reliable, and the bees will love them later

• Peas - dwarf or climbing, they handle the cold like champs

• Onions - start from seed or sets

• Spinach, kale, and silverbeet - fast-growing leafy greens that thrive in cooler temps

💡 Tip: Start seeds in trays with a greenhouse lid or cover, especially in colder regions.

🧤 Protecting Your Plants from Frost

Winter frosts can catch you off guard but with a few simple tricks, you can help keep your garden happy and healthy:

• Cover tender plants at night with frost cloth, old sheets, or even newspapers

• Water in the morning  moist soil holds heat better than dry soil

• Mulch around the base of your plants to help insulate roots

• Raise your pots off cold concrete and group them together for warmth

And don’t forget your hands! Our Sprout Garden Gloves are perfect for winter garden days, warm, flexible, and tough enough for turning compost or mulching.

🌼 Indoor Starts + Garden Prepping

If it’s too frosty outside, winter is the perfect time to:

• Start herbs and hardy flowers indoors
  Try sowing our Kitchen Herb or Healing Herb Seed Bombs into trays or pots on a sunny windowsill they’ll be ready to plant out once things warm up.

• Plan your spring garden
  Sketch out your beds, plan your planting order, or dream up your next garden project with a cuppa in hand.

• Top up soil + compost
  Now's a good time to feed your soil your future seedlings will thank you.

No matter the season, there’s always something to enjoy in the garden. Winter is the perfect time to slow down, dream up your next growing adventure, and plant a little something now for the months ahead. Happy gardening, and stay cosy out there! 🌿✨