scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189 
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 1, 2014 8:39:13 GMT 10
Looking for some advice on what we can plant (if anything) right now. We have a few plants right now (tomatoes, silverbeet, beans) but the heat is starting to visably get to them. Most of our friends around here are finished with their gardens for the season and tell me it's pointless to try to plant anything in the summer.
There are two problems:
1) the heat (40+ in the shade some days)
2) the wet (so far this year it's been a bit of a no-show, but heavy rain can wash away a lot of the soil)
That being the case, is there anything edible I can grow right now?
...We do have a greenhouse, currently overrun with baby ducklings. I've been thinking about attempting a barrel of sweet potatoes in there.
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remnantprep
Senior Member
People do not exist for the sake of governments!
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Email: remnant@ausprep.org
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Post by remnantprep on Dec 1, 2014 9:50:51 GMT 10
Looking for some advice on what we can plant (if anything) right now. We have a few plants right now (tomatoes, silverbeet, beans) but the heat is starting to visably get to them. Most of our friends around here are finished with their gardens for the season and tell me it's pointless to try to plant anything in the summer. There are two problems: 1) the heat (40+ in the shade some days) 2) the wet (so far this year it's been a bit of a no-show, but heavy rain can wash away a lot of the soil) That being the case, is there anything edible I can grow right now? ...We do have a greenhouse, currently overrun with baby ducklings. I've been thinking about attempting a barrel of sweet potatoes in there. I was going to suggest sweet potatos! When we were up there they worked out ok! Tomatos etc not so great! You can also eat the leaves of the sweet potato plant so even if that is all you get from it then its still food! |
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Post by StepfordRenegade on Dec 1, 2014 12:58:10 GMT 10
We are SEQ and the recent heat has just baked my garden :/ I think I'll have to get some shade cloth up.
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Post by Peter on Dec 1, 2014 19:51:01 GMT 10
Is it possible to grow small scale, high-nutrient items such as sprouts and herbs? Even indoors? I've grown these in dry hot Perth summers - it's gotta be better than nothing post-crunch...
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 1, 2014 22:00:08 GMT 10
I didn't know you could eat the leaves. Thanks for the tip!  Definitely going to give it a try... |
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 1, 2014 22:04:54 GMT 10
Is it possible to grow small scale, high-nutrient items such as sprouts and herbs? Even indoors? I've grown these in dry hot Perth summers - it's gotta be better than nothing post-crunch... Our family's big on sprouts, but I found last year the heat was buggering them: they'd go all slimy before they were harvestable. Had big problems with flies laying larvae in them, too. :/ Might give it a go in our cement room under the house... Pretty cool down there, but the sprouts won't get much light. Better than nothing, though, as you say! |
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Post by SA Hunter on Dec 2, 2014 0:25:45 GMT 10
Best bet - go to a local nursery and get their advice. Or, many vegetable gardening books/magazines will have a map of Oz, and a guide to what to plant. Also, go to a local market, find someone selling home grown veggies or seedlings, and ask them.
I found an old Greek lady where i live, and am getting lots of advice from her.
Good luck with the garden!!
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Post by SA Hunter on Dec 2, 2014 0:36:52 GMT 10
Ok, just grabbed a few mags/books that may be helpful;
Yates Garden Guide - most newsagents or bookshops should have it in stock.
Also, a mag. I got from a newsagent ( many moons ago ) - Better Homes and Gardens "A Growers Guide to Vegetables" (1997).
These are the summer veggies they recommend to plant now ( Nth Qld is classed as sub-tropical );
Beetroot
Cabbage
Carrot
Marrow
Peas ( at the end of summer )
Pumpkin
Silver Beet
Spinach
Squash
Swede
Turnip (towards the end of summer)
Zucchini
Hope this helps - but also get local nursery advice - they will be the experts.
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Post by Peter on Dec 2, 2014 1:24:56 GMT 10
Also try diggers.com.au - I buy seeds from them; they have everything organised according to region and season. Good luck!
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
Posts: 189
Likes: 344
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Post by scoutmum on Dec 2, 2014 9:43:27 GMT 10
Thanks for the tips everyone! We're in a kind of funny area... Classed as sub-tropic, but weird weather patterns. Like I said, most of the big gardeners around here don't even try this time of year. Closest nursery is an hour away and in a different climate (mountain range dividing).
I'm going to have a go with container gardening some summer veg in our green house: fingers crossed!
Used to be Diggers members, actually... Loved their products. I got sick of their politics, though, and didn't renew my subscription.
Thanks again! I'll keep you all posted on how the summer garden goes.
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