Sowing Autumn Crops in Victoria: A Guide
Autumn Planting Guide for Victorian Gardens
Autumn is an ideal time to transform your Victorian garden into a vibrant and productive oasis. Here's a comprehensive guide on what to plant, where, and how to ensure a successful harvest.
Vegetables and Fruits
Autumn planting in Victoria offers a variety of options. Some vegetables to consider include broad beans, peas (snow peas), carrots, beetroot, radish, rocket, kale, broccoli, cabbage, celery, endive, lettuce, pak choi, and potatoes. These crops thrive in cooler conditions and can be sown or transplanted during autumn for a fall or early winter harvest [1][2][5]. For fruits, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and dwarf fruit trees like compact peaches or figs are suitable. Autumn is also a good time for assessing and maintaining fruit gardens, applying compost or well-rotted manure, and mulching to protect roots from cold [4].
Herbs
Autumn is a great time for herb planting. Herbs propagated from cuttings, such as rosemary, lemongrass, oregano, thyme, and basil (best from cuttings with strong flavor), grow quickly and retain their flavors. From seeds, parsley, coriander, and dill can be planted. Herbs prefer a location with good drainage and adequate sunlight; some herbs like rosemary and thyme tolerate dappled shade but generally flourish in full sun [1].
Flowers and Shrubs
Autumn is perfect for planting shrubs and flowers. Geraniums, succulents, and banksias, which can be propagated from cuttings and planted in pots or directly into garden beds, are ideal choices. Bulbs such as daffodils, freesias, jonquils, and tulips should be planted deeper than their height (typically twice as deep) with the pointed side up. Tulips prefer full sun, whereas daffodils can tolerate full sun or dappled shade, such as under deciduous trees [1].
Planting Tips & Locations
- Vegetables do well in fertile, well-drained soil with full sun exposure. Raised beds or rows with good air circulation help prevent disease.
- Herbs need well-drained soil with either full sun or partial shade depending on the herb species. For example, basil thrives in warm, sunny spots, while parsley can handle some shade.
- Shrubs and flowering plants should be planted with enough space to grow and in soil amended with compost for nutrient retention. Banksias prefer slightly acidic, sandy, well-drained soils.
- Bulbs require planting in well-drained soil to avoid rot, with good drainage provided either in garden beds or wide, shallow containers with quality potting mix.
Seasonal Notes
Autumn (March-May in Victoria) is perfect for establishing slow-growing plants that will bloom or produce in spring and summer. Applying mulch around plants after planting helps retain moisture and protect roots through the colder months. Gardeners should harvest warm-season crops before planting autumn crops and stay alert to weed control and pest management during this transition [1][2][4].
Additional Tips
- When citrus plants start flowering, they should be fed with a fruit and citrus fertiliser. Annual herbs like parsley and coriander planted in autumn grow particularly well over winter.
- Planting flowering bulbs from mid March to late April is recommended for them to get established before spring.
- Autumn is the best time to plant herbs like rocket, chives, thyme, and more. Herbs and fruit like strawberries and dwarf citrus suit balcony locations, as do succulents and cacti.
- Too much nitrogen fertiliser can produce huge leaf growth and not much fruit in strawberry plants.
This planting guide helps leverage the Victorian autumn climate—mild, cooler, and wetter—to successfully establish a productive and vibrant garden in flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Enjoy your gardening!
In line with the Autumn Planting Guide for Victorian Gardens, it's important to consider gardening options such as planting berries like strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, as well as dwarf fruit trees, in your home-and-garden landscape to enhance your lifestyle. Following this, the autumn season is also an optimal time for improving the productivity of your home garden by sowing broad beans, peas, carrots, beetroot, and rocket in the home-and-garden section of your lifestyle, creating a lush and appetizing home-and-garden space.
