The sun is shining in most parts of the country. And you know what that means: it’s planting season! So what veggies should you grow now for a bountiful harvest come summer?
What to plant now
Tomato
In a salad, soup or sandwich, tomato has got to be one of the most versatile veggies (ok, officially a fruit!) you can grow at home. But don’t just go for an old variety. Pick one that’s expensive or hard to buy, like cherry tomatoes or Black Russian.
Get them in the ground now, and you’ll be munching on fresh tomatoes in February. Just bear in mind that they can fall victim to insects and fungus, and they like to eat – a lot! So be sure to give them a little liquid fertiliser every two weeks.
Leafy greens
If there’s a veg that’s easy to plant and quick to grow, it’s lettuce and other leafy greens. They like a little less sun than others, so pop them in a spot of the garden that gets morning light instead of harsh afternoon rays.
Cucumber
Sensing a theme here? Yep, we’re creating the ultimate summer salad fresh from your garden! Next up: cucumber. Easy to grow and ready to eat in just eight weeks, cucumbers need plenty of room to grow – or you can encourage their vines to go up a trellis if you’re short on space.
Water well until their fruit appears, then cut back to keep the roots nice and moist.
Eggplant
Everyone who grows eggplant at home will tell you it’s nothing like what you’ll find in the supermarket. So if you fancy picking the purple veg this summer, get it in the ground now and make sure it won’t bear the brunt of high winds and sun. Keep the soil rich and well composted, and mulch well to reduce weeds.
Capsicum
Another summer salad favourite, capsicum loves the sun. They’ll be happy in a warm spot in the garden or a pot, but add a shade cloth or move them into the shade if the heat gets too intense. You also need to keep them safe from insects and fungal disease.
3 tips for successful spring planting
Once you’ve chosen what to plant now, you’ll want to make sure they flourish. Here are our top tips for a successful summer crop:
1. Water well
It’s all too easy to under water in the warmer months. So if you tend to forget (or just have better things to do than stand in the garden with a hose for hours on end) set up an automated irrigation system to do it for you. You’ll save water and money, and enjoy a blossoming summer garden ripe for the picking.
2. Add mulch
Sure, summer veg loves the sun. But you’ll still want to retain moisture in the soil, keep the roots well hydrated, and keep weeds at bay. Mulch makes it easy – just sprinkle it around the base of the plant.
3. Get picking
One of the best things you can do to keep your summer veggie patch thriving is to pick produce often. Grab a handful of herbs and some leafy greens for dinner, pluck fruit when it’s ripe, and don’t let foliage linger too long as it can overstress the plant
Pope’s DIY tip
Install Drip Eze under your mulch. It gets the right amount of water right to the roots, so less is evaporated on hot days.
Tomato
In a salad, soup or sandwich, tomato has got to be one of the most versatile veggies (ok, officially a fruit!) you can grow at home. But don’t just go for an old variety. Pick one that’s expensive or hard to buy, like cherry tomatoes or Black Russian.
Get them in the ground now, and you’ll be munching on fresh tomatoes in February. Just bear in mind that they can fall victim to insects and fungus, and they like to eat – a lot! So be sure to give them a little liquid fertiliser every two weeks.
Leafy greens
If there’s a veg that’s easy to plant and quick to grow, it’s lettuce and other leafy greens. They like a little less sun than others, so pop them in a spot of the garden that gets morning light instead of harsh afternoon rays.
Cucumber
Sensing a theme here? Yep, we’re creating the ultimate summer salad fresh from your garden! Next up: cucumber. Easy to grow and ready to eat in just eight weeks, cucumbers need plenty of room to grow – or you can encourage their vines to go up a trellis if you’re short on space.
Water well until their fruit appears, then cut back to keep the roots nice and moist.
Eggplant
Everyone who grows eggplant at home will tell you it’s nothing like what you’ll find in the supermarket. So if you fancy picking the purple veg this summer, get it in the ground now and make sure it won’t bear the brunt of high winds and sun. Keep the soil rich and well composted, and mulch well to reduce weeds.
Capsicum
Another summer salad favourite, capsicum loves the sun. They’ll be happy in a warm spot in the garden or a pot, but add a shade cloth or move them into the shade if the heat gets too intense. You also need to keep them safe from insects and fungal disease.
Once you’ve chosen what to plant now, you’ll want to make sure they flourish. Here are our top tips for a successful summer crop:
1. Water well
It’s all too easy to under water in the warmer months. So if you tend to forget (or just have better things to do than stand in the garden with a hose for hours on end) set up an automated irrigation system to do it for you. You’ll save water and money, and enjoy a blossoming summer garden ripe for the picking.
2. Add mulch
Sure, summer veg loves the sun. But you’ll still want to retain moisture in the soil, keep the roots well hydrated, and keep weeds at bay. Mulch makes it easy – just sprinkle it around the base of the plant.
3. Get picking
One of the best things you can do to keep your summer veggie patch thriving is to pick produce often. Grab a handful of herbs and some leafy greens for dinner, pluck fruit when it’s ripe, and don’t let foliage linger too long as it can overstress the plant
Pope’s DIY tip
Install Drip Eze under your mulch. It gets the right amount of water right to the roots, so less is evaporated on hot days.
