An Australian summer vegetable garden for Melbourne and surrounds

Due to the range of climates experienced across the country, a typical Australian summer vegetable garden is hard to find. The vegetables you are harvesting from spring and the vegetables that you are preparing for the upcoming months differ from region to region. The diversity can make it a little confusing trying to find what works best for your local climate. CGS has gathered some basics on what works best for an Australian summer vegetable garden in the south east of the country to make the process easier for you!

An Australian summer vegetable garden for Melbourne and surrounds

Vegetables to plant this summer –

Pumpkin, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplants and cucumber are great to plant over the warm months. These vegetables range in how long they take to get ready for harvest. Zucchinis can take as little as 6 weeks, whereas pumpkins take as long as 12 weeks to get ready (perfect for some warm pumpkin soup as the climate starts to cool!). The diverse harvesting seasons mean that the work is spread out and you’ll have a steady supply of vegetables straight from the garden.

Herbs that flourish in summer –

A variety of herbs including basil, mint, lemongrass and chives grow well in a typical Melbourne summer. A common feature of these herbs is that they all like being well-watered. Of course, they also have their differences. While basil and thrives in shade, lemongrass and chives prefer being out in the sun. Mint, on the other hand, can be placed in the shade or outside under the sun. Harvesting most herbs regularly prolong their productive life so you have more fresh ingredients for your summer cooking!

Maintaining your garden in summer –

Regular watering is key for a vegetable garden over the summer months. However, choosing the correct time to water your vegetable garden is crucial to the plants flourishing. The best time to vegetable patch is in the morning before the sun is up. This minimises the water from vaporising in the afternoon heat as well as protects it from fungi and disease from the leaves remaining wet from an evening watering session. For general maintenance tips over summer take a look at our summer gardening tips to keeping your garden healthy over the warm months.

We hope you learned something new about growing an Australian summer vegetable garden in Melbourne!

Looking for gardening services this summer? Contact the CGS team today! We mow your lawn and also offer a range of gardening services that keep your garden well maintained during the warmer months.