Spring is the perfect time of year to breathe new life into your veggie patch. Melbourne’s climate is forever changing. As seasons come and go, so do new opportunities, challenges and requirements for keeping a veggie garden healthy and maintained. Spring is a busy time for gardeners, there are many jobs to do, specifically planting.
Knowing what to plant is half the battle, which is why we’ve put together a list of vegetables and herbs to grow during spring. But first, let’s talk a little bit about how to prepare your vegetable garden before planting your seeds.
How to prepare Your Vegetable Garden In Spring
Get your vegetable garden ready for spring by first harvesting any leftover vegetables from winter and removing any unwanted weeds that have crept their way into your garden. Once you’ve attended to these tasks, spread compost and/or fertiliser over your soil and mix it in. This will provide extra nutrients for your veggies to absorb and keep your garden looking healthier for longer. The best time to start growing your garden in Spring is between late August to mid-September, when the days start to become longer and warmer.
Here is a list of vegetables that will thrive during spring in Melbourne:
- Tomatoes
- Carrots
- Capsicums
- Beetroots
- Asparagus
- Cucumbers
- Zucchinis
- Eggplants
- Broad Beans
- Chillies
- Broccoli
- Cabbages
- Cauliflowers
- Celery
- Endives
- Leeks
- Lettuce
- Onion
- Parsnip
- Pak choi
- Peas
- Radishes
- Rocket
- Silver beet
We hope you found this list of veggies to plant during spring helpful, and if you’re reading this and already thinking about summer, don’t worry. We’re prepared a blog for that as well, The Best Veggies to Grow During Summer in Melbourne
What Are The Easiest Spring Veggies To Grow?
Cherry tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes grow fervently in heat – they’ll thrive anywhere where the sunlight hits, just so long as they’re protected. Whether you’re thinking about potting your tomatoes, arranging them in hanging baskets or making a spot for them in your veggie garden, your cherry tomatoes will thrive during spring.
Bell Peppers
Like cherry tomatoes, bell peppers need warmth and sunshine to grow healthy and strong. Seedlings should first be planted indoors, to encourage germination and seed growth.
Simply fill a seed tray with well-draining potting soil, and place one to three seeds in each container especially important with germination and then to encourage strong growth of the seedlings.
Cucumbers
The spring time is perfect for growing cucumbers. They respond well to warm weather, as well as being placed in rich, fertile soil with plenty of well-rotted organic matter. If you’re thinking about planting climbing cucumbers then you’ll need to provide vertical supports as the fruits start to develop.
Beets
Beets 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 Herbs To Grow During Sping?
Mint
Ah, what would a herb garden be without mint? Mint isn’t a fan of bathing in the sun all day, which is why spring is the perfect time to start growing this delicious herb. Like ivy, mint has a tendency to take over and spread through your garden like wildfire, so it’s best to limit their growth by planting them inside a pot.
Basil
Basil, the herb that pretty much does it all. Basil grows fairly quickly and easily, so it’s best to give them plenty of space in your planter to allow their roots to spread.
Basil prefers to be kept moist. Frequent watering is the key to success with this herb.
Coriander
Coriander is another fast growing herb that requires healthy, well draining soil in order to grow, as well as plenty of sunlight.
Another reason to love coriander is the fact that you can use the dry seeds in your cooking once these plants have bloomed, so nothing truly goes to waste!
Rosemary
Rosemary thrives in sunlight, in fact, the plant needs around 6-8 hours of sun a day to keep it happy. Rosemary is at it’s healthiest when planted using well-drained soil, rich with organic matter. This herb is pretty hardy and can usually go several days without watering, however as the weather starts to change and the days become warmer, it’s a good idea to water your rosemary bush a little more frequently.
Experienced gardeners know that growing an at home veggie garden comes with a unique set of challenges, however, when you know how to choose your produce based on the season, it really makes all the difference. Spring is a fantastic time to start growing your own veggie patch as you’re essentially got a clean slate to work from – allowing you to release your creativity and become an expert gardener in no time.
