August is a month of change in the garden, with lengthening days signalling that a new season is imminent. These changes mean that a larger selection of vegetable, herb and flower seeds can be sown wherever you live in Australia.
Gardeners in warm climates can sow a huge range of seeds for spring flowers and summer veg. In cold climates, start seeds of tender crops indoors or under cover to get a jump-start on the season, or focus on root crops, alliums and perennials.
August and September are our busiest months here at The Seed Collection. If you're planning to purchase seeds to plant in spring and summer it's a good idea to order now to beat the spring rush.
Read on below or click the following links to browse a range of seeds to sow now in your climate:
▩ Cold Climate: Tasmania, Melbourne, Mt Gambier, Canberra, etc.
▩ Moderate Climate: Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, etc.
▩ Warm Climate: Brisbane, Bundaberg, Carnarvon, etc.
▩ Tropical Climate: Broome, Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, etc.
Not sure which climate? Click here.
Vegetables
As spring approaches gardeners in moderate to warm climates can begin sowing warm-season crops. In sub-tropical regions this includes corn, cucumber, okra, zucchini, pumpkins and melons. In cool climates start nightshade seeds indoors or under cover so you'll have large, robust seedlings for when the weather warms up. Gardeners in all climates can refresh their herb gardens for spring and sow seeds for alliums, legumes, leafy greens and root vegetables.
- Alliums: Bunching onion, leek, shallot, potato onion.
- Nightshades: Capsicum, tomato, eggplant, chilli (indoors or undercover in cool climates).
- Legumes: Shelling peas, sugarsnap peas, snow peas, bush beans (warm climates).
- Tubers, Roots and Stalks: Seed potato, radish, carrot, parsnip; kohlrabi, beetroot, horseradish, celery (warm climates).
- Brassicas: Cabbage, kale, mustard.
- Leafy Greens: Lettuce, cress, endive, mizuna, rocket, silverbeet, spinach.
- Herbs: Borage, coriander, dill, chamomile, parsley, oregano; basil, chervil, chives, lemon balm (warm climates).
- Perennials: Rhubarb (crowns or seed), asparagus (crowns or seed), artichoke, jerusalem artichoke, cape gooseberry (warm climates).
Flowers
As the first spring bulbs come into bloom it's time to start planting warm-season flowers. Gardeners in warm climates can sow all warm-season seeds now, and it's a good time to grow snapdragon, petunia and phlox before the true heat of summer hits. Lily bulbs can be planted in all climates for summer flowering.
- Flower seeds to sow in August: Alyssum, amaranth, aster, brachyscome, Californian poppy, carnation, cosmos, gypsophila, impatiens, lily, marigold, nasturtium, petunia, phlox, snapdragon, statice, verbena, zinnia (warm climates).
