Brassicas are the major group of vegetables produced for winter - they include cabbage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts.

Broccoli, which is related to cauliflower, can be still planted until April.

Production of their tender heads depends on quick growth. Stimulate this with weekly applications of Flourish as well as a side dressing, every five or six weeks, with a complete fertiliser such as Searles Garden and Vegetable Food.

Once the broccoli's centre head is tightly packed it should be cut to allow side shoots to produce - don't leave the centre head until dots of yellow appear, as this indicates that flowering has begun.

Cauliflower does take some time longer to grow than broccoli - 14 to 24 weeks to picking, depending mainly on the weather. Once the white curds have formed try and offer some protection from direct sunlight by tying larger leaves together to form a cover over the curd.

Faster and easier to grow are cabbages in various varieties, including Sugarloaf, Savoy and Red. Quick growth can be stimulated by nitrogen - during growth apply handfuls of poultry manure or sulphate of ammonia.

One of the gardener's most annoying pest is that pretty little white butterfly that flits around the flowers and vegies, but beware, they are laying eggs, which hatch into grubs that eat the lush leaves of brassicas, including kale.

Applying a vegetable dust will help, but spraying may be necessary - ask a nursery for advice on which product will suit your needs.

There isn't a better vegetable to grow for healthy eating than brussels sprouts - encourage children to eat them by involving them in the planting and care, and hopefully they will try their own produce.

During winter, beans can't be grown. They should only be planted when the soil begins to warm, but remember it is the correct season for growing peas.

English spinach, silverbeet, carrots, broad beans, leeks and parsnips can complete your winter vegetable garden.