As we move into this new gardening season, here’s a helpful guide on what vegetables and flowers to plant throughout the year.
Summer Planting
Knowing what to grow now is essential for a productive garden, with options like leafy greens and root vegetables. Summer is the perfect time to grow a variety of salad greens like rocket, cos lettuce, and basil, alongside flavorful herbs such as parsley and endive. For those interested in adding some color to their garden, consider planting zinnias, cosmos, and echinacea to attract pollinators. If you’re looking to grow some larger vegetables, beans, zucchini, capsicum, and cucumbers are excellent choices.
Autumn Planting
As autumn approaches, it’s time to shift focus to hearty leafy greens. Silverbeet, spinach, and cavolo nero thrive during this season, and herbs like coriander and watercress will also flourish. Enhance your garden’s aesthetics with flowers such as Bells of Ireland and Queen Anne’s Lace. For bigger yields, tomatoes, carrots, celery, onions, and garlic are great options for fall planting.
Winter Break
Winter is a time to rest the garden. With the cold setting in, it’s best to take a break and let the soil replenish. Allowing soil to replenish restores essential nutrients, improves structure, and preserves biodiversity. It prevents erosion, supports sustainable farming, and enhances carbon storage, combating climate change. Practices like crop rotation and cover cropping promote soil recovery, ensuring long-term productivity. Healthy, replenished soil is vital for growing crops, maintaining ecosystems, and securing food supplies for future generations.
Spring Planting
When spring arrives, it’s time to reintroduce salad greens like lettuce, tatsoi, and basil back into the garden, along with rocket for that peppery flavor. Brighten up your garden with flowers like Billy Buttons, yellow celosia, and calendula to welcome the new season. For larger veggies, consider snow peas, sugar snaps, cherry tomatoes, and ginger as you prepare for the warmer months ahead. By focusing on what to grow now, you can align with nature’s cycle and enjoy a flourishing, sustainable garden.