What to plant and do in the Melbourne garden this month

This month will be your absolute last chance to sow some summer crops for autumn harvest, so slip, slop, slap and all that and get stuck in. Let’s face it though, it’s starting to get fairly hot so if you do plant seeds direct into your patch and seedlings think: cool spots and shade tents.

What to plant…

  • There is still a whole heap of things you can pop in the patch at this time of year including basil, parsley, watercress, sage and dill, spring onions, leeks, lettuces and zucchini
  • A second planting of the ever versatile silverbeet will give you extra plants to see you through the winter when production slows right down.
  • If you see cucumbers or zucchinis that are growing unevenly and withering at the end (they will have a wonderful trombone-like shape), try a dose of wood ashes to supply potash.
  • Add some beauty to your backyard with verbena or ageratum.

Other tasks

  • Don’t hesitate to give your mulch a top up – especially if you are heading away from home for a holiday. Mulch after watering to a depth of about 5cm but be careful to keep mulch clear of plant stems, especially young seedlings, to avoid stem-rot.
  • 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 leafy greens and beans) as the heat becomes more intense will do. Install on high UV days, windy days, and while away from your patch.
  • Future proof (and holiday proof!) your garden. Wicking beds are a great way to reduce the amount of water you use in your garden. They can also go for weeks before they need to be topped up so you can take your summer holiday and have a thriving edible garden when you return. You can order custom sized wicking bed conversion kits for your raised beds from us. 
  • As your plants grow and fill in the space between each other, it’s time to weed between them. There’s usually no reason to pull the weeds out before that though. They protect the soil, and many are tasty and more nutritious than spinach.  Come along to one of Adam’s Edible Weeds Walks if you don’t believe us!
  • If you don’t have wicking beds that do the watering for you, water smarter at this time of year. Water first thing in the morning, and remember a deep drink a couple of times a week is far more beneficial than light watering.

In the Orchard

  • Plums are now coming online

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.