What to Plant and When

Growing your own veggies is not only economical but heaps of fun. Kids love the whole process of planting, cultivating and then eating their own produce. But you need to keep in mind that there are different temperate zones in Australia and what works for your friend in WA may not work in your Victorian climate. You can get some more specific advice from you local nursery about what is right for your area and when.

Choosing Veggies for Your Garden

There are lot of different veggies and herbs that you can choose to grow in your garden, depending on your tastes and the time of year. For now some common plants that thrive in just about any veggie garden include:

Winter Vegetables:

Asparagus, Garlic, Shallots, Horseradish, Rhubarb, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Silverbeet, Spinach, Broad Beans, Asian Vegetables, Leek

Spring Vegetables:

Carrots, Cabbage, Herbs, Beetroot, Cherry Tomatoes, Lettuces, Cucumbers, Capsicum, Eggplant, Zucchini, Spring Onions, Water Chestnuts, Ginger, Poatoes, Rocket

Summer Vegetables:

Beetroot, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrots, Celery, Chinese Cabbage, Endive, Lettuces, Parsnips, Radishes, Silverbeet, Squash, Pumpkin, Sweetcorn, Tomatoes,

Autumn Vegetables:

Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Asian Greens, Leeks, Lettuces, Onions, Parsley, Peas, Radish, Rocket, Shallots, Spinach, Swedes, Turnips

Companion Planting in the Veggie Patch

Companion planting is used to help deter pests and encourage healthier plants in the veggie patch. Planting herbs in your veggie patch not only helps to control bugs, but you will also have a ready access to herbs that can be used in your everyday cooking. Here are some herbs that you can plant in your garden:

• Basil enhances the taste of tomatoes and also helps to protect them from disease and insects
• Garlic repels aphids and controls cutworms and hornworms in tomatoes Horseradish planted near potatoes, horseradish controls potato bugs and encourages more disease-resistant potato tubers
• Thyme planted near cabbage, it deters cabbageworms and whitefly. Thyme also attracts bees to tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants, where the bees will pollinate the plants and give you more fresh produce Chives help to prevent mildew, deter green flies, and repel aphids
• Catnip is good for controlling flea beetles Marigolds produce a root secretion that destroy root eating nematodes

Just remember to have a go and see what works for you. Happy gardening!

Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

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