If you live in an area in South Africa that doesn’t get very much rainfall or experience frosty nights during this time of year then it might be safe for you to plant some winter crops. Here are some plants that can withstand these conditions:
Beans
Beans are a good source of protein, fibre and iron. Growing beans in the garden is easy; they need very little space and can be planted early in the spring or late summer for harvesting later on.
Beans can be eaten as vegetables or salad ingredients. They also taste great in soups and stews.
Cabbage
Cabbage is a cool weather crop. The leaves and stems are used as vegetables. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and contains reasonable amounts of potassium, folate and fibre. It does not contain as much vitamin A or calcium as other vegetables, but it is still worth eating for its health benefits.
Cabbage comes in different colors, shapes, and sizes depending on what type it is: white cabbage has pale green leaves; red cabbage has purple-red leaves; savoy cabbages have crinkled leaves; Chinese cabbages have round heads that look like balls when young but become elongated with maturity (like regular cabbages).
All types can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in soups or stir-fries (stir-fried with garlic).
Carrots
Carrots are one of the easiest vegetables to grow, and they’re also very rewarding. They can be planted in the ground or in a container—either way, you’ll need lots of space for these root veggies because they like to spread out! Carrots love water and need ample sunlight, so they’re best planted during fall or winter when temperatures are cooler (and therefore not as much water is lost via evaporation).
Cucumber
Cucumbers are a vine plant, which means they need a lot of space to grow. They also need a long growing season and lots of water. The best time to plant cucumbers is in spring or summer, as they can be grown indoors throughout the winter months if you live in one of those regions where there’s no winter break.
Egg-fruit
Egg-fruit is a fruit that can be eaten raw or cooked. It is also called eggplant, and it’s a type of tomato. It’s rich in vitamin C, folate and potassium but it contains more water than most other vegetables. Egg fruit has been cultivated for over 4 000 years in India and Africa before spreading to Europe in the 15th century where it quickly became popular because of its medicinal properties. In South Africa, egg fruits are cultivated throughout winter from November through March when they start ripening from December onwards. They can then be planted into your garden after their flowering period has ended (late May).
When buying seeds make sure they are organic – you don’t want your crop sprayed with chemicals!
