How to make your garden grow...

Winter has come and the sunny days and freezing sub-20 degree nights make right now the ideal time to make your garden grow.

Whether you want to grow your own produce or want to have a go at gardening at a community garden the start of winter in the region presents ideal conditions to get into it.

Karratha Community Garden spokeswoman Robyn Gulliver said the consistent mild weather was what made winter perfect for garden growing.

“The consistent weather, warm days and cold nights, lack of downpours – the only thing we struggle with really is the lack of bees to pollinate,” she said.

“Anything will grow here in a normal garden unless they need that really cold weather like some below ground produce.

“For people who want to garden they can grow their veggies until about December, a bit longer if they’re in a nice shady spot, but it’s almost July so you have to get it in now.”

Mrs Gulliver said while vegetables grew well, the Pilbara was also a great place for fruit trees.

“We have passionfruit, grapes, citrus, olives, mulberries, at the garden and they don’t take a whole lot of watering or need much care,” she said.

“We planted a pawpaw last year and it is the fastest I’ve ever seen one grow.”

Like vegetables, Mrs Gulliver said fruit trees needed to be planted now if you want them to grow by next year.

Fellow green thumb Tania Bowler said the community garden had a wide range of herbs available that could save consumers at the supermarket.

“Herbs are so expensive at the shops and you only ever need a small amount and they grow so well here just in pots,” she said.

“You can come down here and pick the herbs any time, you can just dig one out and take one home to grow so long as you aren’t damaging anything.

Mrs Bowler said besides gardening people could come to the garden any time to paint, build are just relax with a book, some food and a drink.