For beginner green thumbs, it’s important to note what plants grow well in different seasons of the year. The fruits of your labour are far more likely to succeed if the growing conditions are perfect for what you’ve planted!
Here’s a guide as to what to grow, when, where you live - so your chances of gardening success are as high as can be. We’ve also included when you’ll be able to harvest your fresh produce, and meal ideas to use them in - so you can start planning now!
1. Summer (Dec-Feb)
Made a new years resolution to start planting fresh produce? Good thing summer is the perfect season to kick-start your growing endeavours! This season is one where you can plant some summer salad staples - lettuce, cucumber and carrots will grow well in the sunny conditions.
Veggies and Fruit
|
What |
When to Harvest |
What to Make |
|
Beetroot |
April |
Beetroot brownies, beetroot hummus, beetroot juice |
|
Carrots |
May |
Fresh juice, carrot cake, balsamic glazed carrots |
|
Cucumber |
April |
Salads, stir fries, margaritas! |
|
Lettuce |
April |
Salads, san choy bao, lettuce leave wraps |
|
Oregano |
March |
Pretty much all italian dishes you can think of |
|
Silverbeet |
April |
Soups, lasagnes, pizzas |
|
Zucchini |
March |
Zoodles, fritters, quiches |
It’s not all about the things we eat - sometimes we like to grow plants that we can admire, too! Here’s a guide to the best flowers to plant in Summer.
Flowers
|
Up North |
Down South |
|
Sunflowers Marigolds Salvia Petunia |
Pansy Marigold Wallflower Petunia Viola |
2. Autumn (March-May) Tis the season to plant leafy greens!
Autumn is where you should get your hands dirty planting all your fresh greens for the year. Kale and spinach are where it’s at (plenty for green smoothies to keep your health in check!) Our children’s favourite broccoli and brussel sprouts should also be planted in autumn - won’t they be thrilled!
Veggies and Fruit
|
What |
When to Harvest |
What to Make |
|
Broccoli |
May |
Broccoli gratin, soup, curry |
|
Brussel Sprouts |
July |
Roasts, pizza |
|
Cabbage |
June |
Slaw, soup, salad |
|
Kale |
June |
Frittata, kale chips, green smoothies |
|
Shallots |
July |
Tarts, roasts, stir fries |
|
Spinach |
May |
Green smoothies, omelettes, cannelloni |
|
Pak Choi |
May |
Steamed greens, stir fries, noodle salads |
Make room in the flower patch for these beautiful plants in Autumn.
Flowers
|
Up North |
Down South |
|
Sweet pea Viola Cornflower Everlasting daisy Geranium Sunflower |
Aurora daisy Carnation Cornflower French marigold Pansy Snapdragon |
3.Winter (June-August)
Not many veggies like the cold too much, but you can still start growing some fresh produce staples like garlic and onions. It’s also time to start planting delicious juicy strawberries!
Veggies and Fruit
|
What |
When to Harvest |
What to Make |
|
Garlic |
November |
Aioli, garlic puree, hummus |
|
Onion |
December |
Tarts, roasts, pretty much anything! |
|
Snow Peas |
October |
Salads, stir fries, steamed greens, snack on as is! |
|
Strawberries |
12 months time |
Pavlovas, smoothies, sundaes |
Flowers
|
Up North |
Down South |
|
Carnation Dahlia Aster Chrysanthemum Geranium French Marigold Sunflower Snapdragon |
Pansies Violas Grevillea Poppy Petunia Forget-me-not |
4. Spring
Spring has sprung, and it’s time to plant your Mediterranean vegetables - delicious in every way. Eggplants and artichokes can be grown (the perfect pair for an antipasto platter). You can also start growing your hearty roast vegetables like potato and pumpkin.
Veggies and Fruit
|
What |
When to Harvest |
What to Make |
|
Artichokes |
August |
Dips, marinated artichokes, minestrone soup |
|
Capsicum |
December |
Stuffed capsicum, capsicum and chilli jam, chargrilled capsicum pesto |
|
Eggplant |
January |
Moussaka, eggplant cannelloni, stuffed eggplant, eggplant chips |
|
Leeks |
January |
Quiche, risotto, leek and potato soup, potato and leek gratin |
|
Potato |
February |
Gnocchi, cheesy mash, chips! |
|
Pumpkin |
January |
Soup, roast veggies, pumpkin and halloumi burgers, pumpkin scones |
|
Squash |
December |
Spaghetti squash, roasted butternut squash with mustard vinaigrette |
Flowers
|
Up North |
Down South |
|
Sunflower Marigold Torenia Coleus Celosia |
Plant ageratum Alyssum Iceland poppy Wallflower Verbena |
So if you’re a newbie to the green thumb game, it’s important to make sure what you’re planting can actually grow in the season you’re in - otherwise you might be in for some heartache right from the get go!
A well prepared gardener is a successful gardener - if you’ve mastered the basics, then soon gardening will be second nature to you. Check out the other articles in our The ABC’s of Gardening range which covers the basics of everything you need to know to grow fresh produce!
Also, if you ever have trouble with your garden, the problem could be in the soil. Healthy soil is essential if you want your garden to thrive this year. One easy way to nourish your soil is by getting yourself a couple of chickens. Your garden with thank you for it.
