A few foolish questions about gardening in the cold...

[Jessiebean]

I have spinach, silver beet, asian greens and some sort of "snow daisy" which don't seem to grow in the cold weather at all. They don't die they just sit there stubbornly remaining the same size.
This happened with the silver beet last year and in August it decided to grow and some lettuces did not grow one inch in for four months before becoming edible size in October...then bolting in early December(my seasons are all backwards remember!) is this what cold weather winter gardening is like without a poly tunnel? Rather disappointed as I am following all the planting guides for my area but living off pumpkins in "storage" (ie near the shed) chickweed and home grown alfalfa sprouts as the garden isn't giving me anything else at the moment!...

[Millymollymandy]

Now if it were really cold they'd all be a frosted slimy mess.....

Those sort of plants don't really grow in winter or at least not much and I think the idea with winter lettuce is that you get it to full size during the slightly warmer months then it just sits there doing nothing waiting for you to pick it.

I can't grow any of those things outside so that's why I have what I'd call 'winter veg' which are really hardy such as kale, leeks and parsnips. Kale does grow all through the winter no matter how cold it is. Even PSB can succumb to really cold weather but I think you'd be OK with it. Carrots are fine too in the ground and leeks are a staple, not sure that they grow but they don't need to, just stay the same ready for eating as and when. I don't know about other cabbagy type of things cos I don't grow them. So other than those things we live off our frozen veg (I mean in the freezer ) and buy in salad.

[Jessiebean]

Ah the nasturtiums are cold ie: a slimy mess....hmmm that is a bit disappointing, however the sprouts, pumpkin and chickweed will have to do for now/ Will plant brocolli next season so I can have that on hand.. I think I will have to try the PSB but the caterpillars here are dreadful....

[frozenthunderbolt]

I think I will have to try the PSB but the caterpillars here are dreadful....

I read today that a cup of normal white kitchen flour is a godsend for killing cabbage white caterpillars and white-fly, sprinkled on when the plant is dead DRY and apparently works a treat! Got to be worth a go as a cheep organic solution

[Millymollymandy]

That sounds interesting and now I am having visions of clouds of white powder floating about the Ishers plots!

I tried the bits of cut broom branches placed strategically about my PSB plants but it didn't work at all. (Apparently broom plant is supposed to repel the butterflies - does it like heck. )

Try leeks then Jessie as you don't need to do caterpillar patrol with them!

[Keaniebean]

Ooh thanks for the flour tip, I found a whole hoard of cabbage whites tucking into my kales for winter earlier today, although I have noticed they only like the green varieties and seem to steer clear of the red ones. Maybe you could try the red varieties if the caterpillers are pesky.

[Mrs Moustoir]

I suppose the flour would mop up all that 'orrible green smelly caterpillar poo too