Spring veggies to plant now in WA

Name: Baileys Fertilisers
Address: Perth, Western Australia
Telephone: (08) 9439 1688

Author

Baileys Fertiliser

Published

4 September 2020

Vegetable & Herbs

Spring is in the air, and that means warm-season veggies can start going in the ground once any chance of frost in your area has passed. Here's our top 3 croppers which can be grown from seed or seedlings now.

As with most veggies, these guys like a sunny position in the garden with some protection from strong winds and afternoon sun. For best results, soils need to be rich in organic matter, minerals and free draining. Prepare sandy soils in advance of planting by digging in aged animal manure, clay, compost and a complete mineral fertiliser - or use Baileys Clay & Compost which contains aged chicken manure, mature compost, kaolin clay and rock mineral silts. Add additional organic based fertiliser with the full suite of macro and micro nutrients for top quality veggies - such as Baileys Soil Matters Garden.

Short on space? No worries, these guys can be grown very successfully from large pots or planters filled with a quality growing media such as Baileys Veg & Herb Premium Planting Mix.

Beans

Plant: Aug-Oct or Jan-Mar
Harvest: 6-11 weeks after planting
Grow from: Seed or seedlings
Position: Full sun
Soil: Organic & mineral rich, free draining
pH: 5.5 - 6.5
To feed a family of 5 grow 5 metres worth.
Plant every 4-6 weeks for continuous harvest

Versatile, easy and heavy cropping - beans have to be one of our favourite veggies for WA gardens. Plant dwarf beans (also known as bush or French beans) or climbing beans (also known as runner beans) in Spring and early Summer. Some prefer dwarf beans because they're string-less and don't need staking, but climbers will produce more beans.

Stagger planting to avoid a glut of beans and ensure a steady supply for meals.
Climbers will need support from a trellis or frame as they get up to 2m high.
Beans require moist soil at all times but mustn't be waterlogged. Don't over water for the first month after planting, as this can result in excessive vegetative growth.
Side dress with Baileys Soil Matters Garden when flowering starts or if deficiency is present. Nitrogen is the main element needed, although some nitrogen is supplied to the plants from Rhizobium bacteria in nodules on the roots. Plants short of nitrogen are stunted, with small pale green leaves. Excess nitrogen will produce too many leaves and lower yields.
Snake Beans are an excellent alternative for growing through the hotter summer months and Broad Beans can be sown in autumn and winter, which means you can have beans year round!

Cucumber

Plant: Sept- Jan
Harvest: 7-10 weeks after planting
Grow from: Seed or seedlings
Position: Full sun, protect foliage from dry winds
Soil: Organic & mineral rich, free draining
pH: 5.5 - 6.5
To feed a family of 5 grow 5 plants
Plant every 6-8 weeks for continuous harvest

Whether in salads, dips, or a G&T, cucumbers are one of those must have refreshing warm-season veggies. They can be grown along the ground, but are best grown vertically and look fantastic hanging from frames and even second hand pallets.

Cucumbers are vigorous growers and will need a light, regular application of an organic based, complete fertiliser every 3-4 weeks. Baileys Soil Matters Garden is ideal. Keep well mulched, with a layer of lucerne or pea straw to keep roots cool and moist.
Cucumbers need plenty of water, particularly when fruit is developing. They are prone to fungal diseases, so avoid watering their leaves.
Cucumbers have male and female flowers and rely on pollination from bees and other insects for fruit set. Companion plant with nasturtiums and basil to encourage bees. If you're getting flowers but no fruit you can hand pollinate with a small dry paintbrush dabbed from flower to flower.
Different types of cucumbers are harvested at different stages for their specific uses. Harvest as soon as ripe and regularly to encourage more cropping.

Zucchini

Plant: Aug-March
Harvest: 5-8 weeks after planting
Grow from Seed or seedlings
Position: Full Sun
Soil: Organic & mineral rich, free draining
pH: 6 - 7
To feed a family of 5 grow 5 plants.
Plant every 6-8 weeks for continuous harvest

Coming from the same family as cucumbers (Cucurbits), these little squash have similar soil, watering and fertilising requirements. They have a reputation for being almost idiot proof and are a great veggie for beginners or the impatient - as you can expect seed to first harvest in just five weeks! They do well in West Australian conditions and produce a lot of food rapidly in a relatively small space. Don't leave on the vine for too long as they can get very tough.