The problem of course is that it's also the season of the White Cabbage Butterfly. As a lot of the seedlings you are looking to nestle into the soil are part of the cabbage family this makes things pretty challenging. I have solved the problem for the moment in the germination area by using shade cloth at the bottom and op shop sheer curtains over the top. Problem is that such strict control once you get out into the garden is a lot more challenging.
Either you need to find a way to cover your newly planted seedlings or you get the unrelenting joy of caterpillar patrol. Generally I end up doing caterpillar patrol and accepting I will loose plants I don't want to loose. Even those that survive will be set back and grow a lot slower than possible which considering that everything stops growing at the height of our winter growing season isn't optimal.
This year I am planning to do a combination of both. Between sheer curtains and some old greenhouse hoops I hope to be able to rig up some cover for at least a small amount of them. This should give me a staggered harvest through the winter which will be further supported by my focus on succession planting.
At this point I am quite impressed with what is happening in the onion stakes. The germination rate on this year's seed looks extremely good, last year's seed is abysmal but that is to be expected. I will have to see how they transplant out before I am totally convinced but right now this technique is looking very positive.
How is everyone else doing on their winter planting?
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Hi Belinda, still thinking about mine here, although I plan to plant broad beans this weekend (hoping my back will be up to it) I tried pieces of white plastic (which I cut in a vague butterfly shape) tied to string as well as netting, I didn't seem to get many caterpillars, but I did get a lot of aphids. The theory behind the white butterfly shapes is that the butterflies think that other butterflies are already there so they won't go there. Anything white and butterfly shaped will do I think.
Hi :)
Re swedes - I roast them, like you. I put them in beef casseroles in the slow cooker. And with the roasted ones, I chop them up with other left-over roast vegies, zap it in the microwave for three minutes, add an olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing and there is lunch.
Re planting, my onions and leeks are coming up nicely, so just waiting for the heat to abate before planting them out. :)
My garden is always weedy which may explain why every time I've grown onions they are a bit on the small side.
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