🌿 Winter Brassica Growing Tips for Katikati

Yummy Brocolli

Brassicas are real winter warriors. Cold-tolerant and nutrient-packed, they thrive when the summer crops slow down. In the Bay of Plenty’s mild, sometimes wet winters, you’re in a prime spot to grow these leafy legends — if you follow a few smart, thrifty tips.

What are brassicas, you may be asking. Well, they are a sub-group of cruciferous vegetables are a family of plants that share similar characteristics, including their four-petaled flowers resembling a cross. Brassica species and varieties commonly used for food include bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, choy sum, kohlrabi, napa cabbage, rutabaga and turnips.

🧤 1. Planting Time: Timing is Everything

Most brassicas should be planted out from late summer to early autumn (Feb–April) so they establish before the real chill sets in. But even if you're a bit late to the game, you can still plant seedlings into early winter, especially kale and broccoli, which are more forgiving.

Pro tip: Grow On Katikati have plenty brassica seedlings available, in fact, there's often a surplus when locals over-sow and share their excess!

Kale and brocolli seeds sown, alongside peas and celery

🌱 2. Prepare Your Soil

Brassicas are heavy feeders and love a rich, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Before planting, dig in:

• A generous layer of compost or aged manure (check local stables or swap with a neighbour)

• A sprinkle of garden lime – this helps balance pH and prevent clubroot, a common brassica disease.

Healthy Soil = Healthy Crops

🛡️ 3. Protect Against Pests, Even in Winter

The white cabbage butterfly may slow down in winter, but aphids and slugs are still active, especially in milder coastal areas like Tauranga and Waihi Beach.

• Use DIY garlic or chilli sprays to deter aphids (easy to make with pantry scraps).

• Some gardeners advise to lay down coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, or beer traps for slugs and snails. Personally, they have never worked for me.

• If you’re planting under cover, fine mesh netting can help keep pests out and warmth in.

• Use Tui Garden Products, Quash (thinks squash....)sparingly, which works on the principle of non-toxic chelated iron - when the snails come in contact with the small yellow pellets, they simply slime out and dehydrate. This is much better than the blue pellets which are toxic to wildlife and not just slugs and snails.

I keep my brassicas free of white butterfly ravaging by tying an old pantyhose around them! Check out local Opp Shops for sources of old pantyhose.

🌬️ 4. Shelter from Wind, Not Cold

Brassicas like the cold but not being battered by Bay of Plenty’s winter winds, especially in open rural spots.

• Use straw bales, wooden pallets, or recycled trellis as windbreaks.

• Or, plant near fences or hedgerows to act as natural protection.

💧 5. Watering Wisely

Winter soil stays moist longer, but young seedlings still need regular watering during dry spells. Morning watering is best — it gives leaves time to dry before cooler evenings, reducing disease risk.

Bonus: Use saved rainwater to save money and reduce waste.

Water lightly, often. And don't forget to feed regularly - compost tea, sheep pellets, compost etc.

🌟 6. Harvest Regularly

Once your plants start producing, harvest regularly to encourage more growth. Pick outer kale leaves or side shoots of broccoli while leaving the center to regrow.

Don’t forget — if you're growing for your own food security or sharing with others, every harvest counts!

Final Thoughts

Brassicas are the backbone of a winter garden — reliable, hearty, and full of nutrition. With a bit of prep, pest protection, and savvy soil-building, your Bay of Plenty garden can provide crisp cabbage, bold broccoli, and crunchy kale that’s better than store-bought — all for next to nothing.

Keep it thrifty, keep it local, and happy growing! 🌱 Grow On, Katikati!