What to plant and do in the Melbourne garden this month

It’s still pretty warm outside, but there are some tasty seedlings that can be planted out at the end of the month. This is also a wonderful time for planning – what wonders you will whack into your patch in Autumn? Can any spent plants come out and soil be prepared for what’s to come? Read on…

What to plant

  • Veggies: Lettuce is lovely at the end of February, but, if the days are still quite hot, consider popping the seedlings under some shade cloth, or a more established plant to protect it’s sensitive foliage form the sun.
  • Missed planting your basil? It will happily go in early in the month and you’ll still get a crop through the autumn.  Did you know that basil comes in purple, Thai and lemon flavoured? Not to forget the old favourite, sweet basil.
  • Why not try some pollinator and beneficial insect-attracting nasturtium, verbena, petunias and marigolds. These little lovelies add beauty and scent too.

Other tasks

  • Consider a green manure crop to add some life and love to an overworked patch. At this time of year try cow pea, mung bean, soy bean and millet. This will improve your soil incredibly and it’s well worth the effort!
  • Our installed VEG beds come with a generous helping of organic mulch but if it’s getting low don’t hesitate to give them a top up – especially if you are heading away from home for a holiday. Mulch after watering to a depth of about 7cm but be careful to keep mulch clear of plant stems, especially young seedlings.
  • If you haven’t already, consider constructing a couple of shade cloth tents. You don’t need to be a chippy to construct one, any simple, moveable structure that you can pop over the top of some of the sun sensitive veggies (like eggplant, capsicum and others) as the heat becomes more intense will do. Install on high UV days, windy days, and while away from your patch.
  • Top up mulch on your veggie patches, herb gardens and ornamental beds, especially important if you are heading off this holidays. A hot summer tip is to mulch after watering the patch, to a depth of about 7cm. Keep mulch clear of plant stems… especially young seedlings. Choose sustainable, low environmental impact mulch, one that will enrich your soil as it breaks down.
  • It doesn’t sound like the most exciting task, but weeding is a great job to do at this time of year. These thirsty plants can compete for precious resources.

Plan your future garden

If you want to grow food but haven’t got your own garden yet, now is a great time to install and plant a garden. Not sure where to start? We can help you with customised DIY sustainable timber raised garden bed and wicking bed kits to suit your garden, or we can install any of these options for you.