As the warm weather is on its way back and we say goodbye to the cold winter days, it’s the perfect time to get out into the garden. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a novice wanting to get started, now is the perfect time to get your Spring/ Summer crops in. 

Understanding the climate

In Adelaide, Spring often can’t come soon enough. As the temperatures increase from the brisk winter cold, the sun is ready to start shining again to help your garden flourish. You will also usually notice lower rainfall compared to the previous months. These are the two key elements we must take into consideration when getting you ready to plant those seeds and seedlings. Waiting until the frost lifts, particularly if you reside in the Adelaide Hills, will allow for the greatest success when it comes to your garden. 

Preparing the soil

Firstly, make sure you have harvested your remaining veggies from Winter and remove any unwanted weeds that may have grown. This will allow you to have a fresh garden bed to start that Spring planting. We recommend hand picking out your weeds rather than using a herbicide. 

The next step is to do the prep work with compost and fertiliser, which work together to load your soil up with the good stuff. Young plants (seeds and seedlings) are very needy and require a boost of organic matter and micronutrients to grow into healthy, established, productive plants. We recommend our Jeffries Organic Compost and Jeffries CulChar Fertiliser as both are locally made and certified organic.

Adding a layer of mulch, before the temperate starts to sore, will assist in conserving moisture in the soil from the downpours of winter whilst also assisting in minimising the regrowth of weeds. All of our high quality fully recycled mulches will work perfectly, however we particularly recommend Jeffries Recover Mulch, Jeffries Forest Mulch for smaller to medium veggie patches and Jeffries Gardeners Choice for medium to larger spaces due to grade of material (chunkiness of pieces).

What should I grow? 

This is a great question! Spring not only allows for the growth of many different herbs, fruits and vegetables, it also allows you to get your garden back into the swing of things for Summer. Planning is imperative to ensure your garden is as successful as possible. 

HERBS

• Chives
• Coriander
• Dill
• Mint
• Oregano
• Sage
• Thyme
• Basil

Spring is the perfect time to plant and cultivate herbs. Plenty of sunlight, regular watering and quick drainage will see your herbs flourish. When it comes to fertilised soil, most herbs will grow quickly, however this can often be at the expense of flavour. So be conscious you don’t overdo the fertiliser. Jeffries Veggie and Garden Soil is ideal for veggies and herbs, containing vital organic nutrients and significantly increasing water retention. You aren’t growing these herbs just to look pretty, so make sure you continually trim and harvest. This will allow for continued growth and elevate your Sunday roast to another level with your homegrown goodies.

FRUITS AND VEGGIES

• Spinach
• Kale
• Carrots
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Tomato
• Honeydew

These fruits and veggies thrive in the warmer weather and longer days that Spring provides us. Sow spinach, kale and carrots at the start of Spring and they’ll be ready to harvest in Summer. Honeydew is best planted in late spring, when the soil is warmer, and cucumbers should be planted roughly 2 weeks after the last frost to ensure you are enjoying fresh, homegrown cucumbers all summer long. 

Now you’re ready! It’s time to make this garden dream your reality. There really is nothing quite like enjoying those home grown fruits and veggies and elevating your dinners with herbs all summer long. For all your gardening needs, support local and buy through Jeffries.