It can be difficult to know what kinds of flowers and vegetables to plant in the cooler months, especially as the harshness of winter varies in each state. If you’re based in Queensland then you’re likely accustomed to the sub-tropical weather. Whereas if you live down south in Victoria or even in Western Australia and parts of New South Wales, you might experience snowy conditions!
This winter season planting guide was designed to help you know what to plant, when, and what conditions to expect based on your state.
Queenslanders are lucky to have warm, mild weather most of the year, making it easier to grow food all year round. However, this does not mean you can grow anything at any time. Having less clearly defined seasons can make it harder to plan what you should be planting, especially when autumn and spring can feel quite short.
For Queenslanders, our top suggestions of flowers to plant include carnations, dahlias and gerberas, and our recommended vegetables include lettuce, broccoli and capsicum.
While colder than Brisbane, cities like Sydney still offer relatively mild winter conditions which means a variety of plants can be grown. However, it’s essential to get your planting underway before the cold sets in. Early planting means your seedlings will be robust and more resilient to extreme temperatures.
If you’re living in New South Wales, then our top suggestions are grevilleas, pansies, tea trees, carrots, onions and cabbages.
Victorians are well acquainted with experiencing four seasons in one day, especially during winter. Cities like Melbourne require rich and nourishing soil to keep plants thriving when it gets extra cold.
To help with this, our most resilient recommendations include begonias, geraniums, alyssums, garlic, spring onions and spinach.
Tasmania is the coldest state in Australia since it is closest to the polar zone. This means there is a very specific window in which you can plant crops to make sure they grow all year round. A huge consideration is frost-prone areas, so ensuring your plants can handle this is essential.
Our top frost-resistant flowers include violas, poppies and calendulas. Once the frost has passed but while it’s still cool, try planting snow peas, cherry tomatoes and zucchini.
Winter in Perth is a good time to grow vegetables, as a range of fresh produce thrives in mild conditions. During winter, vegetables need to get a lot of sunshine, so shaded areas are out for winter growing.
Suggestions for plants during winter include marigolds, petunias, forget-me-knots, lemons and limes, potatoes and beetroots.
The cooler months in South Australia are perfect for planting native Australian plants. Winter often brings the most rainfall which means soils are moist and plants have enough time to establish deep roots before the warmer months roll around.
Keep an eye out for myrtle wattle, lavender grevillea, aranda, asparagus, shallots and kale when you’re shopping for your next plants.
We hope this guide has given you a better understanding of what vegetables and flowers best suit the winter season in your state. It’s important to learn more about the kinds of plants that will thrive in your home climate so that you can have a healthy, sustainable garden that produces fresh goods all year round.
