Autumn is one of the best times of the year to start growing your veggie garden. The mornings are more crisp and evenings are starting to cool off which is a nice change from the blistering heat that often comes with summer.
Planting during the early days of Autumn is beneficial to your produce as the soil is still warm from the summer heat, making it an easier process and more accommodating for your veggies. However, none of this means anything if you don’t know what vegetables to plant. Popping any old seed into the ground and crossing your fingers that your produce will thrive isn’t the way to go. Instead you need a list of vegetables and herbs that are best suited to autumn climate, which has already been done for you below!
Check out our list of veggies that thrive during autumn in Melbourne:
- Beans
- Beetroot
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Brussel Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Capsicum
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Chillies
- Corn
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Kale
- Leeks
- Lettuce
- Onions
- Parsley
- Parsnips
- Peas
- Potatoes
- Silverbeet
- Spinach
- Spring onion
- Squash
- Sweet Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
What Are The Easiest Autumn Veggies To Grow?
Peas
Although suitable for just about any climate, peas are a great crop for autumn and winter planting. If you’re limited on space then perhaps you need to consider putting trellis in your garden for your peas to climb as they grow.
It’s important to plant the pea seeds 3-5cm deep into the soil and watered heavily.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like rocket, spinach, pak choi, mustard greens, silverbeet and lettuce are best to grow from seeds planted in autumn, where they can be sheltered from harsh sunlight. It’s best to grow a variety of seeds to give your salads optimal flavour, texture and colour.
Have you enjoyed learning about the best vegetables to plant in spring? Why not check our blog on The Best Veggies to Grow During Melbourne Winter and prepare yourself for what’s to come!
Radishes
Raishes don’t fare too well in heat which is why they’re a great choice to plant during the early days of spring when the ground is still cold but not completely frozen. They also don’t need a lot of space so will grow comfortably in pots, making them easy to move around and place just about anywhere in your garden.
What are the best fruits to grow in Autumn?
Fruits that grow best during the autumn season are typically citrus fruits including lemon, lime, and orange trees, however, they don’t like competing for space, so make sure your lawn is big enough to spread them out in. Another consideration to take into account is that citrus plants love to be placed where there’s a lot of sun exposure, and protection from harsh winds.
Below is a list of fruits that grow best during autumn in Melbourne:
- Figs
- Bananas
- Apples
- Rhubarb
- Kiwi Fruits
- Plums
- Limes
- Passionfruit
- Quince
- Grapes
- Pomegranate
- Pears
What are the best herbs to grow in Autumn?
Autumn is the perfect season to start planting a variety of delicious herbs. There’s plenty to choose from but we thought we’d just name our top four favourites.
Garlic Bulbs
Autumn to spring is the best time to start growing your garlic at home. Garlic cloves are able to quickly develop their roots during this time, giving them time to establish before winter stunts their growth. When summer rolls around the soil will start to warm, allowing your garlic to start growing again and produce a sizable harvest midway through summer.
Oregano
Oregano is a must-have herb in a culinary garden, their pungent, aromatic slightly bitter flavouring pairs well with almost any vegetable combination.
Did you know it’s also a low-maintenance herb? Oregano thrives in both indoors and outside, so if you’re limited on space this could be the herb for you. While Oregano has a fondness towards warmer climates, it’s a perennial herb which means it will continue to thrive even in the harshest of conditions.
Fun fact: Oregano actually grows better in light, well-drained soil with no fertilisation or added compost needed and pairs well with just about any other plant – making it the perfect companion planting herb.
Thyme
Thyme is another perennial herb that complements a variety of meals, including soups, meats and vegetables. Thyme is a low-growing herb that is extremely drought tolerant and will spread through your vegetable garden very quickly – which is why they usually work best in pots where they can be contained.
Fun Fact: Their purple flowers are extremely bee-friendly
For more bee-friendly content, check out our article on the lifecycle and behaviour of honey bees.
Lemongrass
Did you know that lemongrass is one of the fastest growing perennials? Lemongrass thrives in the sunlight, which is why we suggest planting your lemongrass in the early days of autumn, when there’s still warmth in the soil.
There are various methods for harvesting lemongrass, you can choose to buy your lemongrass as seedlings or propagate a fresh looking stalk from your local supermarket. What’s more? They’re one of the easiest herbs to propagate!
Lemongrass is a particularly great herb for beginner gardeners, as it’s hardy and will survive just about any season and care. So if you’re thinking about expanding your herb garden, we suggest giving lemongrass a chance.
Well if you’ve made it this far then you’re probably got a pretty good idea on how to get started on your own herb and veggie garden – we hope! Growing a successful veggie garden during autumn takes practice, patience and usually a little bit of luck but we guarantee, once you’ve tasted fresh produce straight from your garden, you won’t go back.
