What's Growing this Autumn
In New Zealand, first day of Autumn is technically 1st March and lasts until 31st May before we slip into the chilly Winter months. Autumn is a great time for growing various produce lines, as there's less stress for the plant from hot summer days and more chance of a good watering! As the season gets on, and the daylight hours are reduced, growth is slowed but cue the emergence of some cool-season crops! Or this is how to should be. After the wet summer that the upper North Island has endured, who knows what the autumn has in store us. But one thing's for sure, we'll be collecting whatever need rescuing.
So, what's to come?
Stone fruit is still a goer! You'll continue to see peaches, nectarines and plums in the box. New season apples have began to appear as autumn is a great time to harvest them. Pears and feijoas will arrive and we'll start to see more kiwifruit too.
Veggies that might crop up...
Cool-season cultivations such as spinach, lettuce, kale and radicchio thrive in crisper weather. Root veg like beetroot, carrots, kumara, turnips and parsnips also prefer the cooler soils autumn brings with it.
We've been missing cauliflower in the box recently, so fingers crossed we'll see more from this guy. Did you know cauliflower is actually a type of cabbage?! Speaking of, we'll likely see brussel sprouts back in action, along with other brassicas like broccoli, kohlrabi, and bok choy.
After a summer sweetening in the fields, pumpkins are harvested, agria potatoes are plentiful and swede is plucked from the ground and will hopefully land in the box!
Autumn rain can help to improve soil and increase it's fertility and provide a better environment for plants to grow in, just as long as there's not too much! There also tends to be less pests compared to the summer months, and therefore this reduces the risk of damaged produce which is a big bonus. With all things considered, autumn has the potential to be a fruitful couple of months for farmers. We've got our fingers crossed for them.
Need some cabbage inspiration?
As always, we'll be bringing you a medley of recipes to help you make the most of the produce that comes in the box. Here are a few recipes to help you tempt your taste buds...
