Autumn Gardening 101: Tips for Veggie Garden Success

Autumn Gardening with Amber!

Hey, it’s Amber here! Autumn is one of my absolute favourite times in the garden, especially for the veggie patch. It's the ideal season for cool-season veggies, but timing is everything. Let's dive straight into why Autumn gardening is so rewarding and how to make the most of it.

Why Autumn?

Autumn offers the perfect conditions for growing cool-season vegetables because the soil is still warm from summer, but the air temperatures are starting to drop. The trick is to plant your seeds and seedlings now, rather than waiting for the weather to cool down. Too many gardeners delay planting until temperatures drop significantly, which slows growth since colder soil inhibits rapid germination.

The ideal soil temperature range for planting is around 18 to 24°C, common across most of Australia during early to mid-Autumn. Getting your veggies planted early means they'll establish quickly and be more resilient as the colder months set in.

Veggies to Plant Now

I love growing brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. These veggies thrive when you start them off now because, by winter, those pesky cabbage moths are less active, giving your plants a healthy, pest-free growth period.

If you do notice cabbage moth activity, products like Derris Dust and Success Ultra are highly effective. Derris Dust provides an easy dusting application, while Success Ultra offers excellent control and is derived from natural sources, keeping your veggies safe from pests without harmful residues.

Alongside brassicas, this is a great time for planting:

• Onions
• Leeks
• Lettuce
• Leafy greens

Leafy greens enjoy the cooler but still moderately warm weather. This balance helps avoid fungal diseases while allowing them to grow robustly.

Starting Seeds Right

If you're raising seedlings from seed, always use a good quality seed-raising mix. For even better results, mix in some coir pith. Coir is coconut fibre, and it significantly improves water retention, keeping seedlings consistently moist. This means healthier seedlings and fewer watering headaches for you!

Seedling Containers

When raising your seedlings, you can plant seeds directly into trays filled with seed-raising mix. But personally, I prefer using seedling trays or small pots because they make transplanting easier.

• Metric Punnets: Great for smaller seedlings. Choose from open-cell or six-cell punnets—both fit snugly into our seedling tray system.
• Individual Pots: Ideal for larger seedlings like pumpkins and zucchinis. This reduces root disturbance during transplanting.

To protect your surfaces from water stains, our under-trays catch excess water effectively. Just empty occasionally to maintain a tidy workspace.

Protecting Your Seedlings

As temperatures begin to drop overnight, it’s smart to use clear dome tops. These clear covers keep your seedlings warm and protect them from the cold. They come with adjustable vents to manage airflow, reducing condensation build-up. Use them overnight or on particularly chilly days to keep your seedlings thriving.

Easy Planting with Peat Pellets

For larger seeds, I highly recommend peat pellets. They're simple, clean, and effective. Just pop a pellet into water—it'll expand into a mini soil container for your seed. Best of all, you plant the entire pellet into your garden once seedlings are ready, minimising root disturbance.

Garden Maintenance & Weed Control

Autumn isn't just about veggies; it's also a great time to tidy your garden and prep for winter:

• Compost: Collect fallen autumn leaves and add them to your compost—great for your garden beds later.
• Leaf Curl Management: Stone fruit trees are susceptible to leaf curl. Spray copper fungicide now, as leaves drop, and again at bud swell in spring to control this issue effectively.

Lawn Care Tips

Autumn is when wintergrass seeds start germinating. Be proactive by using pre-emergent herbicides like Barricade now. It stops weed seeds from sprouting, reducing weed problems later. Keep your lawn lush and weed-free by acting before weeds have a chance to establish.

Exciting news for home gardeners—Barricade will soon be available in a handy 250ml size, perfect for maintaining smaller gardens.

Ready to Start?

Don't wait for cooler days—start planting now for a thriving autumn garden. Enjoy the process, experiment a little, and happy gardening!