Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have taken this subject to a new thread: winter vegetables

as mu field is purely technical, I would like some advice on what to grow in winter

from: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4230&p=155216#p155216

these are all summer bred vegetables to us, Rupe (for consumption in winter, as they keep well)
and I will be under greenhouse cover, I didn't mention that (the structure is there, my first priority is to cover it, that is planned for this or next week)
I have no clue what difference the greenhouse will make apart from the fact that it will give me a head start for next season.
so far the only winter vegetable I see is mache, corn salad, very tasteful and healthy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_salad
this says it can survive up to in hardiness zone 5, but is grown as winter green in mild climates (that would be us)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardiness_zone
to compare: Zone 5 covers some of the Queensland coast, Western Australia north of Shark Bay, and across the top end.
I am already growing some watercress, which also has a succulent and very peppery taste:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watercress
but I don't know what it will do in winter: whether it will grow or stagnate

please all give me some advice

frank

From what I read of the wiki, a mild climate is most of southern Australia - right across the continent.

Silverbeet, beans, onions....

watercress traditionally gives great results in colder temperatures? suited to clear chalk stream habitats in the UK, and is traditionally integrated with trout aquaculture in certian areas (remember getting some cracking 5-6lb brown trout from the tail end of a watercress farm in Sussex... happy days

been picking it from rivers/streams/burns round here for donkeys... but results in the systems i'v worked on in UVI and the ABLE project here in the Uk, show great growth potential and marketability..

plus they say wild watercress here from streams has nematodes from sheep that can cause you mischief..

anyway that would be my first suggestion... watercress,

did you post the link to the trout hatchery you mentioned somewhere, Charlie?
I'm interested in fingerlings

frank

copied from:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4230&p=155323#p155323


thanks, Welshdragon

frank

Just to polish off my post:- the lettuce we grow in winter is Rouge D'hiver,Valdor and Winter May. The best green mustard variety is called Mustard in the snow and the leaves are not too big and have a fantastic flavour. We get our seeds from Nicky's Nursery and the Organic Catalogue. Both have international access and you can order on the internet.Swiss chard does well too.

WD.

great, Welshdragon

many thanks

frank

be careful of water cress it grows like weeds and tends to take over everything

Hi Mizzie44
Agree with you regarding the water cress -but it sells very well and there is a great demand for it as it is advertised as an important tonic food.
We use a very small pond with two long channels just for growing water cress and nothing else as it has choked the lettuce in the past. It is still growing at present even though the temp is down to 4C.
WD

kale is what you want. grows through snow, not too tasty but at least it will take up nutrients for you. there are also many varieties of cabbage that tolerate freezing temps. how cold are we talking here?

Yes. My neighbour was told to eat it to combat iron anaemia