Autumn in Melbourne is most certainly upon us and the cool change that it brings can mean that it’s the perfect time to get some gardening done. Although spring is often thought of as the go-to season for gardening, autumn also provides the perfect happy-medium for many gardeners as you don’t have to deal with the unbearable heat of summer nor the frostiness of winter.
Even if you’re a beginner gardener and starting from scratch, planting in Autumn will help to set you up for success.
There are many advantages of planting in autumn:
- The cooler months require far less establishment watering
- It’s a much more pleasurable and comfortable for you, the gardener, to be outdoors and planting
- It gives the plants plenty of time to be able to grow their roots deep before the heat of the summer months
- The moist soil makes the ground much easier to dig up
- Soil temperatures are warm enough for roots to grow but the milder weather means that plants are less likely to suffer from water stress
The main problem you need to be aware of when planting in autumn is that it provides the perfect weather for pests. However, as long as you are aware of this and keep an eye out for pest problems, you should have no trouble keeping them at bay and making sure that your plants are able to flourish.
Winter veggies are particularly great to plant in autumn and there are many advantages to planting an edible garden.
So, here’s the ultimate guide as to what we recommend you plant in the autumn months.
Broad Beans
Broad beans are some of the easiest veggies to grow. Anytime between March and early May is the perfect time to grow broad beans. And what many people don’t realise is that the entire plant is edible – not just the beans themselves!
Try to keep them protected from the wind and, if possible, use some stakes and string to help support their growth.
They also complement what is often considered their summer counterpart, tomatoes. Tomatoes often leave soil depleted of nitrogen and broad beans can help to rectify that.
Brassica Vegetables
Brassica veggies, like cabbage, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts and broccoli, are perfect to plant in autumn as they can withstand quite cool climates. In particular, cauliflower and brussels sprouts thrive in cooler temperatures.
Although they can tolerate partially shady conditions, brassica plants will fare much better in direct sunlight, ideally six or more hours a day. They can also be damaged by strong winds, so planting seedlings a little lower and covering their lowest leaves will help to stabilise the plants.
Be careful as brassica plants are particularly prone to snails and slugs. However, using eggshells in your garden can help to deter these pests.
Silverbeet
Silverbeet is a great choice when choosing what to plant in autumn as it is not only easy to grow but has great yield value and is largely resistant to pests.
The plants are productive for over a year and are a great ‘pick and eat’ plant as you can harvest leaves without impacting the rest of the plant. This is because the roots store enough carbohydrates to grow new leaves.
Even though it can tolerate some partial shade, it thrives best in direct sunlight as most veggies do.
Some General Tips and Tricks
- Make sure to mulch your garden. It helps soil to hold moisture and add nutrients.
- Fertilising your lawn will help protect it during the winter months.
- Pruning your trees not only improves their appearance but can also promote growth, especially for fruit trees.
- Planting bulbs can help to add colour into your garden and planting them in autumn will give them enough time to grow so that they’re able to bloom in spring.
- Autumn is a great time to make your own compost. It can help you to save money and is great for the environment. Autumn is the perfect time to start composting as you can make use of the fallen leaves of deciduous trees.
If you are struggling with getting your head around what you should plant in autumn and how, or are wanting to do a complete garden overhaul, Everlast Services have all the skills and resources you need to make your gardening dreams come true.
Contact Everlast Services Today
- Call us on 03 9369 2066
- Email us at sales@everlastservices.com.au
- Complete our quick and easy quote request form
- Visit our showroom at 443 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing. We’re open:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 5:00pm
- Saturday: 9:00am – 1:00pm
- Sunday: Closed
