Now is the perfect time to get into the garden and start planting some Summer colour to add a lift to alfresco wining and dining along with fruit, vegetables and herbs for those healthy, fresh salads to accompany your next barbeque.
Here is our guide to Summer planting plus recipes for family meal inspiration:
Subtropical (includes Southeast Qld and Northern NSW):
Herbs – basil, chives, coriander, fennel, lemongrass, mint, parsley and tarragon.
Fruit and vegetables – artichoke, beans, capsicum, celery, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, melons, okra, onion, potato, rosella, silver beet, spring onion, squash, sweet corn, sweet potato and tomato.
Flowers – aster, balsam, celosia, coleus, impatiens, marigold, salvia, sunflower, vinca and zinnia.
Wet & Dry Tropical (includes North Qld, NT and WA):
Herbs – basil, coriander, lemongrass, mint and tarragon.
Fruit and vegetables – artichoke, beetroot, capsicum, cauliflower, celery, Chinese Cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, pumpkin, radish, shallots, spring onion and tomato.
Flowers – balsam, coleus, marigold, petunia, salvia, sunflower and vinca.
Dry Inland (includes Arid or Outback Areas):
Herbs – basil.
Fruit and vegetables – capsicum, pumpkin, okra, tomato, leek, melons, radish, cucumber and sweet corn.
Flowers - Too hot and dry to plant during Summer.
Temperate Areas (includes Sydney, coastal NSW and Victoria):
Herbs – basil, chives, coriander, fennel, lovage, mint, parsley and tarragon.
Fruit and vegetables – beans (dwarf and climbing), beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chicory, chilli, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, endive, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, okra, parsnip, potato, radish, rhubarb, shallots, silver beet, spring onion, sweet corn, sweet potato and zucchini.
Flowers – alyssum, boronia, cleome, cyclamen, Iceland poppy, marigold, pansy, stock, verbena, vinca, viola and wallflower.
Cool & Southern Tablelands (includes Melbourne, Tasmania and cool Highlands):
Herbs – basil, chives, coriander, lemongrass, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, tarragon and thyme.
Fruit and vegetables – beans, beetroot, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, English spinach, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, onion, parsnip, pumpkin, radish, silver beet, squash, swede, sweet corn, tomato, turnip and zucchini.
Flowers – alyssum, cineraria, cleome, cyclamen, forget-me-not, Iceland poppy, lobelia, lupin, marigold, pansy, petunia, phlox, primula, stock, verbena, wallflower and zinnia.
Mediterranean (includes Adelaide and Perth):
Herbs – parsley and basil.
Fruit and vegetables – tomatoes, zucchini and capsicum.
Flowers – don’t plant anything new, prune flowering shrubs, trim roses with long stems and deadhead annuals to keep them flowering.
