The cooler months of fall and winter are coming up fast! For those of you who may have missed the late summer planting - don’t worry - there are still many propagation techniques you can use to plant during the chillier seasons ahead.

Here are the Vegepod team’s top three tips for propagating (that’s a fancy word for planting) in the Vegepod.

1. Choose the right veggies

It’s easy to grow fall/winter veggies as long as you choose the right ones. For cooler months we love: brassicas (broccoli, brussels, and cabbage); peas; alliums (onions, leeks, garlic); shade-loving herbs (mint, coriander, lemon balm); and rich leafy greens (spinach, kale or silverbeet). All of these plants are suited to growing in cooler, frostier climates, however, cabbage and broccoli may only fit in medium or large sized Pods!

Reposting @roystonroad

2. Use Seeds

Instead of germinating seeds indoors and transplanting, you can directly sow seeds in the Vegepod, even in fall. This is because our plastic container base retains heat from the day, while the seeds themselves are built for cooler climates. However, if you live in a truly frosty area, we advise using our winter propagation cover, or an alternative plastic covering, over the Vegepod.

Made from PVC to create a hot-house environment, the winter propagation cover helps those who struggle to grow during winter time. Throw it over the top of the regular Vegepod cover, or use it on its own. Just make sure to take it off once the sun comes back out - otherwise all your plants will be cooked!

3. Use ‘Bulbs’ or ‘Sets’

While we don’t recommend buying nursery punnets this time of year (the punnets usually die a week after you buy them) we do recommend planting ‘bulbs’ or ‘sets’ of certain plants, such as garlic and onion. You can get these from your local farmers market.

Buy a set of baby onions, for example, and soak them in water for 15 minutes. Then gently pull the heads apart. Plant the bulbs two inches deep into soil with the bulb sitting on the surface.

Voila! In late winter, you’ll have an onion or two to harvest. In the meantime, pick out the weaker shoots to use as herb-like garnishes for your meals.

Reposting: Angus Stewart, garlic bulbs in the Vegepod.

4. Propagate Cuttings

If you are using the Vegepod winter cover, you can even propagate soft-tip cuttings. The humid environment of a mini-greenhouse creates the ideal setting for cuttings to grow and be ready by summer.

Tomatoes, peppers, basil and savory are some of the cuttings that can be grown.

Simply cut the plant stem at 15 cm and dip the cut end into rooting hormone (this can be found at your local nursery). Place the cutting into the damp potting mixture of your Vegepod and let the plant root down.

Reposting @aplantment

That’s it! We hope you enjoyed our tips to maximize the Vegepod during fall and winter. If you are interested in more fall/winter propagation tips, or just want to get in touch, please feel free to contact the Vegepod team. Otherwise, happy planting!