Spring, for us in the subtropical climate here in Brisbane is like the summer for most other climates. It, with Autumn, is one of the most ideal growing conditions for us. The added bonus is we have a short period before it gets too hot to grow much!
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We have to be super organised to make sure we get things in before summer hits and kills our gardening dreams.
The plants that we think do the best in Spring time in the subtropics are:
- Tromboncino
- Cucumbers
- Bush Beans
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Zucchini
- Corn
- Sweet Basil
Tromboncino
It's like a zucchini, but if you leave it on the vine it will be more like a very mild butternut - it was actually the veggie that converted our 4 year old butternut hater into a lover. It's so versatile, and it takes up less space because it climbs. These guys do not like humidity so you need to get them in early (or wait until the end of summer to start them). Hot tip, the fruit fly do love them so pick them early during summer.
Cucumbers
Our kids eat cucumbers like they breathe. They are a sure fire staple in our household so they have to be grown. I opt for Lebanese varieties as I am lazy and don't like to peel the thick skins of some of the traditional varieties. This year I will be experimenting with a bunch of different types.
Bush Beans
My favourite tasting beans are strike and blue lake, closely followed by the Royal Burgundy. I don't waste my time on tasteless beans these days. We don't do climbing beans over summer as we have a bean fly problem so they need to be netted.
Cherry Tomatoes
Big tomatoes are hard in the hot months here in the subtropics. Prone to disease and the constant battle of fruit fly which is why in Spring we only plant cherry tomatoes. My favourite right now is a yellow cherry tomato called honey bee - it's so sweet and prolific.
Zucchini
Zucchini are notoriously bad for getting powdery mildew when it gets too humid, I like to get these guys pumping out the zukes early in spring. They are so versatile and a great staple to have in the garden.
Corn
There is nothing better than fresh corn right from the garden! If you have enough water in the tank, you can get them in the ground in spring for a early summer harvest. If you're relying on town water, I'd suggest holding off until early December when the summer rains start to save yourself some money in water bills as they need loads of water. Try some different varieties for fun like the mini blue or glass gem (just not at the same time as they can cross pollinate).
Sweet Basil
I have loads of different perennial basils in our garden, but really there is nothing that beats the taste of a lush sweet basil. They do survive our heat in summer but I make sure I get loads to stock the freezer up with a supply of pesto and the pantry with dried basil over the cooler months.
There are so many more and I could keep on going, if you want to grab the full list of things to plant this month you can grab my printable guide here.
