*The following information is designed for a temperate southern hemisphere garden – In particular it is designed for a Melbourne garden. This is meant as a general guide, indicating the type of things I plant, sow and harvest. If you have had success with doing things differently then I would love to hear from you and I can update these pages accordingly.*
Will it be warm? Will it still be cold? August can be a bit hit and miss. It probably wont be as warm as I’d like or as cold as I think it might be. August though is filled with promise. Suddenly there are all sorts of seeds to sow, seedlings to plant out and pruning to be done. The other thing there is is lots to harvest – the winter crops should be producing nicely with lots of lovely green things to eat.
Seeds to Sow:
These are the seeds you could consider sowing in August:
Beetroot, Celery, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mint, Mustard Greens, Parsley, Parsnip, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Rocket, Shallots, Silver beet, Spring Onions, Thyme, Watercress
Strawberry, Tomato, Chilli, Capsicum and Eggplant seeds can be sown undercover.
Seedlings to plant out:
Beetroot, Broccoli*, Cabbage*, Cauliflower*, Leeks, Lettuce, Parsley, Shallots, Silver Beet, Spinach, Strawberries, Tomatoes**, Watercress
*Variety dependent.
** As long as you are sure there wont be a frost.
Garden maintenance to perform:
- Protect any tender perennial plants that may not like the cold.
- Tidy up before the Spring growth spurt.
Seasonal Plants Harvesting now:
Broad Beans*, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Citrus, Watercress
*If planted early.
The following plants should be able to be harvested all year round if planted in succession throughout their growing seasons:
Broccoli (but it is very susceptible to pests during the warmer months), Beetroot, Carrots, Celery, Chervil, Dill, Lettuce, Mint, Parsley, Radish, Sage, Silver Beet, Spring Onion, Thyme
