Seeds to sow in the garden this month
Some handy suggestions on seeds to sow in your garden now, no matter which climate zone you live in.
If you are looking for a more comprehensive list of what to sow, check out the list of seeds to sow here.
cool Climate - September
ASPARAGUS 'FAT BASTARD'
Has fatter spears than other varieties and a much higher yield. Allow two
years for the crown to develop, then enjoy this early spring treat.
ARTICHOKE PURPLE
From Northern Italy this violet artichoke produces fat, fleshy hearts that
are considered decorative and good eating. Cut back hard after
harvest for fresh new growth. Harvest 2-3 buds per plant in the first year
and 16-32 the next year.
BEETROOT HEIRLOOM MIX
Green, yellow and red ribbed leaves make a colourful addition to salads,
while their roots provide a unique sweet taste. Includes Chioggia,
Globe, Golden and White Blankoma.
BROCCOLI GREEN SPROUTING
An Italian variety, the blue-green head is followed by side shoots for up
to 3 months. Harvest in 9 weeks from transplant. Yields 1.3kg/plant.
CABBAGE MINI
The fastest cabbage to form neat, crisp heads in just 18 weeks. Slow
to bolt. Heads of approximately 1.3kg.
CAPSICUM SEVEN COLOUR MIX
A rainbow collection of heirloom sweet capsicums including Sweet
Chocolate, Purple Beauty, White Diamond, Yellow Marconi, Chinese Giant,
Red Cubanelle and Orange Bell.
CARROT HEIRLOOM MIX
An exclusive Digger's mix exploding with colours from red to white and
purple to yellow. Succulent and sweet, these carrots hold their colour
when cooked, adding an exciting dimension to meals and salads.
CELERY STRINGLESS
A stringless strain with crisp, earthy flavoured 40cm stems ribbed light
green. Feed and water well for the most succulent stems.
CELTUCE
A lettuce that is also used a celery - strange but true. This ancient
Chinese vegetable is much sought-after by those that know it, branded 'the
next big thing' in Epicurious, so get ahead of the curve with this new (to
the west anyway) vegetable. Grow and harvest young leaves as a lettuce
then cut the succulent stems when they run to seed, reaching 30-40cm high.
CHERVIL
This anise flavoured leaf is a favourite of French chefs to add piquancy
to salad greens. Ideal for growing during the short day lengths of the
winter months but equally as happy in the warmer months in a shady moist
position. Its white flowers are like a delicate Queen Anne's Lace.
CHILLI MILD MANNERED MIX
A mix of chillies that will bring some welcome warmth to your cooking
without blowing your socks off! We've included the slightly warm Alma
Paprika for drying, the prolific and reliable Joes Long Cayenne, the ever
so subtly spicy Padron and our taste test favourite for its sweet and heat
combination- Sante Fe Grande.
DILL BOUQUET
Soft, feathery leaves transform simple dishes and the seeds add flavour to
vinegars and pickles.
EGGPLANT LONG PURPLE
Purple oval fruit to 20cm long. This heirloom fruits almost 3 weeks before
the industry standard hybrid. Just 10 weeks to harvest and yields 3.5kg
per plant.
KALE TUSCAN BLACK
There's never been a vegetable so in demand as kale. We've been growing it
for years for its rich antioxidant properties and now the wider public
have begun to appreciate this wonder veg. With commercial growers running
low on stock this season, you can be assured of your own supply by growing
your own at home- the best way to be assured of simple, clean and healthy
food. Kale is fantastic in soups, casseroles and health buffs love juicing
the leaves and blending the juice with fruits.
LEEK KING RICHARD
The King of leeks! An excellent early variety. Produces extra long
shanks with a creamy texture.
LETTUCE CRISPMINT
An outstanding variety with excellent flavour and crisp, minty green
leaves. Seed Savers in the US have over 200 varieties of lettuce and rate
this as one of their best.
SPEARMINT
Spearmint is used to flavour roast lamb and other meats, sweets, oils,
jellies, drinks, and tea. It also is an attractive, spreading ornamental
ground cover.
ONION CREAMGOLD
A classic, versatile garden favourite that stores well. Harvest when the
leaves wither and collapse.
PARSLEY CONTINENTAL
Flat leaf Italian style variety with a slightly milder flavour than the
curly leaf varieties.
PARSNIP HOLLOW CROWN
A smooth skinned variety that has been a favourite since the 1820's. The
flavour improves if stored in the soil over winter. Sow in spring in cold
climates and in autumn in warmer climates.
PEA GREENFEAST
An easy and rewarding crop for new and experienced gardeners. Traditional,
sweet juicy peas for shelling are produced in abundance on these dwarf
bushes.
RADISH HEIRLOOM MIX
A kaleidescope of healthy bright round radishes that add a spicy punch
to salads and sandwiches. Includes golden Helios, Purple Plum, scarlet
Round Red, pink and white Watermelon and Black Spanish.
SILVERBEET FIVE COLOUR MIX
Dazzling, colourful and extremely nutritious. Midribs of red, orange,
yellow, pink or white make this the perfect fountaining accent plant for
any flower or vegetable garden. Listed in Vilmorin's Vegetable Garden
1888, and also called Rainbow Chard we grew this for its re-introduction
into the US for What's Old is New, where it became a best seller and a
signature plant for heirlooms.
SPINACH NEW ZEALAND
Easy to grow, ground cover and long lived perennial substitute for spinach
in salty coastal areas. Also known as Warrigal Greens. Needs cooking to
remove oxalates.
SPRING ONION RED
Brilliant crimson bulbs rich in antioxidants. Will grow into bulbs that
can be used like shallots if left in the ground, or pick the green stems
early and use as you would regular spring onions.
SWEDE LAURENTIAN
A full flavoured earthy swede with a savoury aftertaste. Under-rated
as a vegetable, its smooth and creamy texture is a welcome surprise in our
restaurant.
TOMATO TOMMY TOE
Winner of our taste test back in '93- Victorian garden guru Kevin Heinze
said it was the best he'd tasted in 50 years! From mislabelled Seed Savers
stock it grew to rave reviews around the world. Sweet 3cm fruit produced
from January to May. Fruits in 10 weeks from transplant and yields 11kg
per plant.
TOMATO AMISH PASTE
World heirloom expert David Cavagnaro rates this 100% like Grange wine! It
has rich, sweet flavour for salads but the shape and hearty texture for
sauces and pastes. Is there any other so versatile? Fruits in 12 weeks
from transplant and yields 15.7kg per plant- fruit size approximately 150
grams per fruit.
TOMATO MORTGAGE LIFTER
Creator of Mortgage Lifter, Radiator Charlie, boosted his income from the
clapped out pick up trucks he repaired. He also bred beefsteak tomatoes,
selling the plants at $1 each. He erased his mortgage in six years and so
named one of his best tomatoes, Fruits in 12 weeks from transplant. Yields
16kg per plant with 400g fruit.
Tomato Barry's Crazy Cherry
Only the second tomato to surpass Tommy Toe in our taste tests! Profuse
(really - crazy!) clusters of oblong yellow fruit that change in flavour
from tart to sweet as they ripen - think of a healthy Smartie. This
selection is sure to be a hit with young and old alike. 96 Days, 3 kg
TURNIP WHITE MINI
Tender round white roots, stores well. Crisp, beautiful well shaped
rounds, ideal for the turnip lover. Harvest in only 7 weeks.
cool Climate - October
PUMPKIN WALTHAM BUTTERNUT
A prized heirloom Butternut that sets the standard by which other
pumpkins are judged. Classically shaped fruit with a small seed
cavity so you get more usable pumpkin. Soft yellow flesh and a great
nutty flavour. Harvest in 19 weeks. 6kg per plant.
WATERMELON MOUNTAIN SWEET YELLOW
Our largest with elongated fruit and yellow flesh. Refreshingly sweet
honey flavour. One of the most productive and tastiest of watermelons. 14
weeks to harvest. 3 fruit per plant, 8 kg per fruit.
LOOFAH
Grow your own bath sponge- and if you're really adventurous harvest some
of the Luffa fruit while they are still young and try eating them! The
flowers are also edible.Grow up a support and screen out your neighbours
with this novelty climber.
warm Climate - September
SWEET CORN TRUE GOLD
Traditional, open pollinated corn is getting harder to find as sweeter
hybrids become more popular. Don't be deterred - this is corn as it should
be - crisp, buttery and true corn flavour.
EGGPLANT HEIRLOOM MIX
A kaleidescope of eggplants never seen in supermarkets. Includes Rosa
Bianca, Violetta di Firenze, Slim Jim and Listada di Gandia.
SUNFLOWER GIANT RUSSIAN
Huge golden yellow heads up to 50cm across. Keep protected from winds and
birds. The best variety for edible seeds.
ASPARAGUS SWEET PURPLE
With a 20% higher sugar content than the green asparagus this purple
asparagus has a wonderful mild earthy flavour when cooked.
ARTICHOKE IMPERIAL STAR (PVP)
Delicious flavour and smotth buttery texture with an average of 6-8 buds
per plant in the first year. Cut back after flowering for increased yields
in the following years. Offsets can be divided to propagate new plants.
BASIL FINO VERDE
Neat compact growth makes this the perfect potted herb for the balcony.
Leaves are small, tender and aromatic with a sweet basil taste and a hint
of spice. Continual harvest for an extended period as it resists bolting
until winter frosts.
BEAN LAZY HOUSEWIFE
Our oldest climbing bean dating back to 1802. Described in Burpee's 1888
Farm Annual as being "broad thick and very fleshy and entirely
stringless...and being peculiarly luscious... it derived its name which
seems discourteous from its immense productiveness". What more can you say
except that they suit house-husbands just as well. Yields 773g/plant.
BEETROOT HEIRLOOM MIX
Green, yellow and red ribbed leaves make a colourful addition to salads,
while their roots provide a unique sweet taste. Includes Chioggia,
Globe, Golden and White Blankoma.
CABBAGE MINI
The fastest cabbage to form neat, crisp heads in just 18 weeks. Slow
to bolt. Heads of approximately 1.3kg.
CAPSICUM SEVEN COLOUR MIX
A rainbow collection of heirloom sweet capsicums including Sweet
Chocolate, Purple Beauty, White Diamond, Yellow Marconi, Chinese Giant,
Red Cubanelle and Orange Bell.
CARROT HEIRLOOM MIX
An exclusive Digger's mix exploding with colours from red to white and
purple to yellow. Succulent and sweet, these carrots hold their colour
when cooked, adding an exciting dimension to meals and salads.
CELERY STRINGLESS
A stringless strain with crisp, earthy flavoured 40cm stems ribbed light
green. Feed and water well for the most succulent stems.
CELTUCE
A lettuce that is also used a celery - strange but true. This ancient
Chinese vegetable is much sought-after by those that know it, branded 'the
next big thing' in Epicurious, so get ahead of the curve with this new (to
the west anyway) vegetable. Grow and harvest young leaves as a lettuce
then cut the succulent stems when they run to seed, reaching 30-40cm high.
CHERVIL
This anise flavoured leaf is a favourite of French chefs to add piquancy
to salad greens. Ideal for growing during the short day lengths of the
winter months but equally as happy in the warmer months in a shady moist
position. Its white flowers are like a delicate Queen Anne's Lace.
CHILLI HELLFIRE MIX
If you like heat then this mix of flaming beauties will set your mouth on
fire! Our exclusive mix includes the Mexican favourite Jalape¤o, knock-
your-socksoff Habanero, fiery Red Cap Mushroom and Yellow Fatalii.
CHIVES COMMON
The leaves have a delicate onion flavour and are used to enliven dishes of
eggs, potatoes, salads and soups. The purple orbs of flowers are also
edible and look a treat in the garden. Can be grown as an insect repellent
barrier.
CORIANDER
Looking light and gauzy in the garden, coriander grows rapidly in the
cooler months. Eat the leaves fresh, dry-fry the seeds and use the roots
for that nuance of Thailand in a stir-fry or curry.
SWEET CORN HONEY and CREAM F1
So sweet it doesn't need cooking, with plump yellow and white kernels.
Harvest in 12 weeks. Sow >20 C soil temperature.
CUCUMBER RICHMOND GREEN APPLE
An Australian heirloom that is starting to gain a following with gardeners
worldwide. Plump round green 'apples' with crisp, white flesh that is
incredibly juicy with a refreshing tang. None of the bitterness in the
skin other types can have. An incredibly prolific producer with around 10
kilos per plant.
CUCUMBER LEBANESE MINI MUNCHER
No need to peel this classic Mediterranean smooth skin variety. Perfect
for salads, pickling or combining with yoghurt for a traditional tzatziki.
Yields approximately 40 fruit/plant.
DILL BOUQUET
Soft, feathery leaves transform simple dishes and the seeds add flavour to
vinegars and pickles.
LEEK JAUNE DU POITOU
This French heirloom from the province of Poitou has fan-like yellow
green leaves and wide shanks.
LETTUCE HEIRLOOM MIX
A splendid mix of some of our favourite heirloom lettuces that bring
colour and flavour from the garden to the table. Includes Tennis Ball,
Rouge d'Hiver, Freckles, Tango and Red Leprechaun.
LETTUCE TANGO
Fresh tender leaves are tightly ruffled and an attractive deep green
colour. Its a popular cutting variety with market and home gardeners
alike. One of the best summer varieites as it is slower to bolt to seed
than most lettuces.
SPEARMINT
Spearmint is used to flavour roast lamb and other meats, sweets, oils,
jellies, drinks, and tea. It also is an attractive, spreading ornamental
ground cover.
SPRING ONION EVERGREEN
A verstaile easy to grow vegie that can be used in a range of
dishes from salads to stir fries. They add a touch of heat without making
your eyes water like their other onion cousins.
ONION AUSTRALIAN BROWN
This strain of Australian Brown was selected from a popular market garden
variety grown near Colac in the 1940's. The thick brown skin make it one
of the best storing varieties.
PARSLEY CONTINENTAL
Flat leaf Italian style variety with a slightly milder flavour than the
curly leaf varieties.
PARSNIP HOLLOW CROWN
A smooth skinned variety that has been a favourite since the 1820's. The
flavour improves if stored in the soil over winter. Sow in spring in cold
climates and in autumn in warmer climates.
PEA GREENFEAST
An easy and rewarding crop for new and experienced gardeners. Traditional,
sweet juicy peas for shelling are produced in abundance on these dwarf
bushes.
PUMPKIN AUSTRALIAN HEIRLOOM MIX
We lead the world in pumpkin selections and this mix is a great place to
start your heirloom adventure. Includes Triamble, Jap, Queensland Blue and
Australian Butter.
RADISH Pink Lady slipper
Pink Lady Slipper is a charming yet robust addition to our radish
offerings. Its crisp texture and mild pungency made it a taste test
winner. The roots are an attractive pink colour, elongated with a blunt
tip and slender taproot. In addition, this radish maintains its crisp
texture and mild flavor for a stunning 40+ days from sowing! Matures in 30
to 34 days.
ROCKMELON SHARLYN
Winner of our 2016-17 Rockmelon trial, Sharlyn resembles an elongated
cantaloupe but with a more restrained balance of sweetness. Its pale
orange flesh is soft near the center and more firm near the rind. Its
aromatics are both floral and fruity. Sharlyn melons have a short shelf-
life and should be eaten within a week of harvesting when ripe. 102 Days,
18 kg
SILVERBEET FIVE COLOUR MIX
Dazzling, colourful and extremely nutritious. Midribs of red, orange,
yellow, pink or white make this the perfect fountaining accent plant for
any flower or vegetable garden. Listed in Vilmorin's Vegetable Garden
1888, and also called Rainbow Chard we grew this for its re-introduction
into the US for What's Old is New, where it became a best seller and a
signature plant for heirlooms.
SPINACH NEW ZEALAND
Easy to grow, ground cover and long lived perennial substitute for spinach
in salty coastal areas. Also known as Warrigal Greens. Needs cooking to
remove oxalates.
SQUASH SPAGHETTI
Sure to be a favourite with paleo Pete, this squash can be boiled
or roasted and the flesh scooped out into ready made pasta, without the
extra carbs! Try it with feta and a sprinkling of herbs for a gourmet
treat that is so easy to prepare. Pick when yellow. Harvest in 15 weeks, 5
fruit per plant.
SWEDE LAURENTIAN
A full flavoured earthy swede with a savoury aftertaste. Under-rated
as a vegetable, its smooth and creamy texture is a welcome surprise in our
restaurant.
Tomato Barry's Crazy Cherry
Only the second tomato to surpass Tommy Toe in our taste tests! Profuse
(really - crazy!) clusters of oblong yellow fruit that change in flavour
from tart to sweet as they ripen - think of a healthy Smartie. This
selection is sure to be a hit with young and old alike. 96 Days, 3 kg
TASTE TEST WINNERS COLLECTION
We know our tomatoes! For over 30 years now Diggers have been trialling
and tasting tomatoes and we now believe we have the tastiest range on
offer in Australia. The following selection rated tops in the largest
taste test we have ever run at the Melbourne International Flower and
Garden Show. Collection includes Tommy Toe, Pink Bumble Bee, Jaune Flamme,
Wapsipinicon Peach and Green Grape.
TOMATO AMISH PASTE
World heirloom expert David Cavagnaro rates this 100% like Grange wine! It
has rich, sweet flavour for salads but the shape and hearty texture for
sauces and pastes. Is there any other so versatile? Fruits in 12 weeks
from transplant and yields 15.7kg per plant- fruit size approximately 150
grams per fruit.
TURNIP WHITE MINI
Tender round white roots, stores well. Crisp, beautiful well shaped
rounds, ideal for the turnip lover. Harvest in only 7 weeks.
WATERMELON BLACKTAIL MOUNTAIN
The most cold tolerant of watermelons, and as the name suggests, this is
the one for cooler mountain climates. Yields glassy dark, cannon ball-like
5kg fruit with sweet, succulent red flesh. The colour contrast of rich red
flesh and near-black skin is picture perfect. 15 weeks to harvest. 4 fruit
per plant, 5kg per fruit.
ZUCCHINI 'BLACK BEAUTY'
Pick flowers for stuffing or leave fruit until it is 15cm long. Produces
more fruit than the standard hybrid Black Jack. Just 9 weeks to harvest.
CALENDULA GREEN HEART ORANGE
For brilliant sunny colour on grey winter days, Calendula is always
reliable. Use the bright orange petals as a gourmet treat on salads. One
of the best companion plants.
MARIGOLD ALUMIA VANILLA CREAM
A unique coloured French Marigold. Vanilla cream flowers on a bushy plant
that flowers all through summer. They are perfect for planting in
containers or in the front of a garden bed to attract beneficial insects
to your garden.
warm Climate - October
CHILLI MILD MANNERED MIX
A mix of chillies that will bring some welcome warmth to your cooking
without blowing your socks off! We've included the slightly warm Alma
Paprika for drying, the prolific and reliable Joes Long Cayenne, the ever
so subtly spicy Padron and our taste test favourite for its sweet and heat
combination- Sante Fe Grande.
CUCUMBER SWEET AND STRIPED
Our sweetest cucumber that can grow to 1 metre long. Elegantly curled,
ribbed and striped. Burp free. Yields roughly 12 fruit per plant.
ZINNIA CALIFORNIA GIANTS
A rainbow of colours to uplift the soul and to lure ladybirds and
butterflies to your garden. Bright blooms of coral pink, vivid orange,
reds, yellows and purples are not at all bothered by the heat of summer.
Flowers for months and lasts for ever in a vase.
hot Climate - September
SPINACH CLIMBING MALABAR RED
A heat loving, highly decorative screening plant with twining red stems
and succulent leaves for stir fries.
PAK CHOY
Thick, curved succulent leaves are a must for stir-fries and Asian soups.
Grow quickly in a rich, moist soil to harvest in about 8 weeks. Yields
110g per plant.
ASPARAGUS 'FAT BASTARD'
Has fatter spears than other varieties and a much higher yield. Allow two
years for the crown to develop, then enjoy this early spring treat.
ORGANIC BASIL SWEET
This is the true basil favoured by continental cooks. Grow half a dozen
plants and you will have enough to pick fresh all summer, and to make
pesto that you can freeze for quick pasta dishes in the winter.
BEAN LAZY HOUSEWIFE
Our oldest climbing bean dating back to 1802. Described in Burpee's 1888
Farm Annual as being "broad thick and very fleshy and entirely
stringless...and being peculiarly luscious... it derived its name which
seems discourteous from its immense productiveness". What more can you say
except that they suit house-husbands just as well. Yields 773g/plant.
BEAN CLIMBING 3 COLOUR MIX
Includes Blue Lake, Golden Wax and Purple King. Harvest in 10 weeks and
pick for almost three months. Why settle for just green beans? Yields
1.2kg/plant.
CAPSICUM SEVEN COLOUR MIX
A rainbow collection of heirloom sweet capsicums including Sweet
Chocolate, Purple Beauty, White Diamond, Yellow Marconi, Chinese Giant,
Red Cubanelle and Orange Bell.
CARROT HEIRLOOM MIX
An exclusive Digger's mix exploding with colours from red to white and
purple to yellow. Succulent and sweet, these carrots hold their colour
when cooked, adding an exciting dimension to meals and salads.
LETTUCE HEIRLOOM MIX
A splendid mix of some of our favourite heirloom lettuces that bring
colour and flavour from the garden to the table. Includes Tennis Ball,
Rouge d'Hiver, Freckles, Tango and Red Leprechaun.
LETTUCE RED VELVET
One of the most ornamental loose leaf varieties with rich velvety maroon
leaves. Its a favourite in our paterre garden at Heronswood where we grow
it along side bright green varieties such as Goldrush for contrast.
CHILLI MILD MANNERED MIX
A mix of chillies that will bring some welcome warmth to your cooking
without blowing your socks off! We've included the slightly warm Alma
Paprika for drying, the prolific and reliable Joes Long Cayenne, the ever
so subtly spicy Padron and our taste test favourite for its sweet and heat
combination- Sante Fe Grande.
CHIVES COMMON
The leaves have a delicate onion flavour and are used to enliven dishes of
eggs, potatoes, salads and soups. The purple orbs of flowers are also
edible and look a treat in the garden. Can be grown as an insect repellent
barrier.
CORIANDER
Looking light and gauzy in the garden, coriander grows rapidly in the
cooler months. Eat the leaves fresh, dry-fry the seeds and use the roots
for that nuance of Thailand in a stir-fry or curry.
SWEET CORN HONEY and CREAM F1
So sweet it doesn't need cooking, with plump yellow and white kernels.
Harvest in 12 weeks. Sow >20 C soil temperature.
SWEET CORN GOLDEN BANTAM
This is the 'corniest' of sweet corn with true flavour. Rich yellow cobs
on 1.5m stalks. Heirloom favourite since 1902. Non-hybrid.
CUCUMBER LEBANESE MINI MUNCHER
No need to peel this classic Mediterranean smooth skin variety. Perfect
for salads, pickling or combining with yoghurt for a traditional tzatziki.
Yields approximately 40 fruit/plant.
CUCUMBER RICHMOND GREEN APPLE
An Australian heirloom that is starting to gain a following with gardeners
worldwide. Plump round green 'apples' with crisp, white flesh that is
incredibly juicy with a refreshing tang. None of the bitterness in the
skin other types can have. An incredibly prolific producer with around 10
kilos per plant.
DILL BOUQUET
Soft, feathery leaves transform simple dishes and the seeds add flavour to
vinegars and pickles.
EGGPLANT HEIRLOOM MIX
A kaleidescope of eggplants never seen in supermarkets. Includes Rosa
Bianca, Violetta di Firenze, Slim Jim and Listada di Gandia.
LEEK JAUNE DU POITOU
This French heirloom from the province of Poitou has fan-like yellow
green leaves and wide shanks.
CELTUCE
A lettuce that is also used a celery - strange but true. This ancient
Chinese vegetable is much sought-after by those that know it, branded 'the
next big thing' in Epicurious, so get ahead of the curve with this new (to
the west anyway) vegetable. Grow and harvest young leaves as a lettuce
then cut the succulent stems when they run to seed, reaching 30-40cm high.
PUMPKIN AUSTRALIAN HEIRLOOM MIX
We lead the world in pumpkin selections and this mix is a great place to
start your heirloom adventure. Includes Triamble, Jap, Queensland Blue and
Australian Butter.
RADISH HEIRLOOM MIX
A kaleidescope of healthy bright round radishes that add a spicy punch
to salads and sandwiches. Includes golden Helios, Purple Plum, scarlet
Round Red, pink and white Watermelon and Black Spanish.
ROCKMELON HA-OGEN
The shiny smooth yellow skin is subtly striped with tinges of green
hinting at the sweet green flesh within. Regularly rating 90-100% in taste
test, its origins are most likely from the rich melon growing traditions
of Hungary. A very prolific melon with up to 14 fruits borne on a sinlge
compact vine. Harvest in 14 weeks, 900g per fruit.
ROSELLA
Roselle has been recognized in natural health industries for its high
levels of vitamin C and diurectic properties. Now it is becoming more
widely accepted and the unopened flowers (calyces) are used for tea
infusions, jams and relishes, and the leaves can be used in salads.
SILVERBEET FIVE COLOUR MIX
Dazzling, colourful and extremely nutritious. Midribs of red, orange,
yellow, pink or white make this the perfect fountaining accent plant for
any flower or vegetable garden. Listed in Vilmorin's Vegetable Garden
1888, and also called Rainbow Chard we grew this for its re-introduction
into the US for What's Old is New, where it became a best seller and a
signature plant for heirlooms.
SPINACH NEW ZEALAND
Easy to grow, ground cover and long lived perennial substitute for spinach
in salty coastal areas. Also known as Warrigal Greens. Needs cooking to
remove oxalates.
SPRING ONION EVERGREEN
A verstaile easy to grow vegie that can be used in a range of
dishes from salads to stir fries. They add a touch of heat without making
your eyes water like their other onion cousins.
SQUASH SPAGHETTI
Sure to be a favourite with paleo Pete, this squash can be boiled
or roasted and the flesh scooped out into ready made pasta, without the
extra carbs! Try it with feta and a sprinkling of herbs for a gourmet
treat that is so easy to prepare. Pick when yellow. Harvest in 15 weeks, 5
fruit per plant.
WATERMELON MOON AND STARS RED
"The Moon and Stars watermelon is the poster child of the heirloom seed
movement. Its buttery moons and constellations of stars are awe-inspiring.
Unique among watermelons, both foliage and fruit are bedecked with
heavenly bodies", writes melon guru Amy Goldman. But Moon and Stars almost
slipped into a black hole until Kent Whealy of Seed Savers Exchange
rescued this treasure from extinction. Thick skin enables storage
throughout winter. Harvest from 14 weeks. Yields 3-4 fruit (25kg) per
plant.
ZUCCHINI 'BLACK BEAUTY'
Pick flowers for stuffing or leave fruit until it is 15cm long. Produces
more fruit than the standard hybrid Black Jack. Just 9 weeks to harvest.
hot Climate - October
ZUCCHINI COSTATA
The star for slicing! A standout Italian heirloom with heavily ribbed
fruit that look like stars when sliced and served. Firm flesh that is
perfect for steaming, stir-fries or grilling. Harvest in just 6 weeks,
yields 25 fruit per plant.
SPINACH NEW ZEALAND
Easy to grow, ground cover and long lived perennial substitute for spinach
in salty coastal areas. Also known as Warrigal Greens. Needs cooking to
remove oxalates.
NASTURTIUM ALASKA SCARLET
Green splashed, white saucers of leaf make great foliage contrast even
before they flower in post box red.
What's in season
SPEEDINGS TO YOUR DOOR!
If you're in a Warm or Hot climate where all chances of frost have past, it’s time to start planting your summer vegie garden. Order tomato speedings online now and get ready for the taste of summer.
In Victoria and Tas, it’s still pretty cool, so we recommend you pot them up so that as soon as the ground warms up and the sun comes out you can plant! This short video by Ryan our plant Manager shows you how to pot up simply, so that you have a well-established tomato ready when you are!
More >>
Things to do in September
Prepare your vegetable garden beds
Now that the temperatures are rising, it's time to prepare for your spring vegetable plant out. Weed your bed, dig in a good manure, preferably sheep or well rotted chicken manure, dig in and mulch.
Prepare your watering system
Be prepared before summer starts, to have an easy and reliable watering system in place to look after your crops while you are away. Dripper lines, and water timers are critical to regular watering which ensures even growth and plentiful harvest.
Watch for bugs
It's not just gardeners that look forward to spring, bug are moving about now to feast on tasty new growth and sap. Aphids will begin appearing on soft new growth and are easily combated with a soapy water spray. Snails will make a meal of any newly planted seedlings so set traps for these too.
Growing Weeks By Area
Diggers has divided Australia into five simple sowing areas — Cool, Warm, Hot, Subtropical, Tropical. These are determined by the number of growing weeks with an average temperature above 15°C each area can expect in a year.
For example, some annuals like beefsteak tomatoes need 16 growing weeks to flower and fruit - this means they will struggle when grown outdoors in Hobart, which only has 13 growing weeks.
Our map tells you at a glance what time of year to sow your seeds for the best results in your area.
Click below for a full-sized map to help you locate your growing area.
