July Gardening Guide – What to Plant and Do Across Australia
By Ewa Bekiesch, DipSustLiv (UTAS)
Edible & Tropical Garden Designer | Healthy Food Advocate
YouTube & Instagram: @CuriousGardensAU — Where every leaf holds a secret, and every root tells a story. Join the conversation!
Seeds, Cuttings & Plants: foodforestseeds.au
July is a month of preparation, planting, and pruning in Australian gardens. Whether you’re in the tropics, subtropics, or temperate zones, there’s plenty to do to keep your garden thriving. Here’s my monthly guide—plus a peek at what’s happening in my own subtropical food forest and annual garden on the Fraser Coast.
Pro Tip: While tidying up your garden this month, don’t toss those trimmings! Turn old leaves, weeds, and fresh greens into a powerhouse liquid fertilizer—it’s free, sustainable, and packed with nutrients to boost your plants.
I’ve included a step-by-step video at the end of this article showing you exactly how to make it and use it in your garden. Trust me, your plants will love it!
Now, let’s dive into July’s key tasks:
Tropical Gardens (Northern QLD, NT, WA)
Key Jobs This Month:
- Prune mangoes and lychees now that fruiting has finished
- Mulch deeply to conserve moisture during the dry season
- Stay on top of weeds before wet season growth kicks in
What to Plant Now:
Veggies: Snake beans, okra, sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, capsicum
Herbs: Basil, lemongrass, coriander, mint
Fruits: Passionfruit, papaya, banana (plant suckers now)
Tip: This is prime time for heat-loving crops – get them in before the humidity returns!
Subtropical Gardens (SE QLD, Northern NSW) – and My Garden Update
What I’m Doing This July:
In my food forest on the Fraser Coast, I’m:
- Harvesting and planting out the next lot of winter greens (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) while the temps stay mild
- Preparing beds for early spring crops with aged chicken manure, loads of compost, and mulch
- Direct-sowing root crops (carrots, beetroot, radishes) in the raised garden beds
Key Jobs This Month:
- Prep soil for spring planting (compost is gold right now!)
- Protect tender plants on the odd chilly night (rare here, but possible)
- Prune citrus after harvest to encourage new growth
- Prune deciduous trees (Asian pear, Mulberry, Persimmon) while they’re dormant
- Mulching around fruit trees
What to Plant and Sow Now:
Veggies: Beetroot, carrots, lettuce, radish, spinach, peas
Herbs: Parsley, dill, chives, thyme
Fruits: Strawberries, blueberries, guava
Temperate Gardens (Southern NSW, VIC, TAS, SA, WA)
Key Jobs This Month:
- Plant bare-rooted fruit trees (apples, pears, stone fruit)
- Prune deciduous trees while they’re dormant
- Protect seedlings from frost with cloches or row covers
What to Plant Now:
Veggies: Broccoli, cabbage, kale, onions, garlic, broad beans
Herbs: Rosemary, sage, oregano
Flowers: Sweet peas, pansies, calendula
Tip: Focus on brassicas and alliums – they’ll thrive in the cold!
Final Gardening Tip
Watering needs vary wildly this month:
- Tropics/Subtropics: Ease up if rains arrive
- Temperate zones: Ensure plants don’t dry out in cold winds
Join My Gardening Journey
I hope this article helps you plan and organize your garden, bringing you one step closer to growing an abundance of food and achieving self-reliance sooner rather than later!
The next article will be out in the first week of August—stay tuned!
What’s happening in your subtropical garden right now? Are you sowing, planting, or harvesting anything exciting? Got any questions? Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you!
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- Subscribe to my YouTube channel
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Every bit of support helps us grow and share more sustainable gardening tips. Thanks for being part of this journey!
Happy gardening,
Ewa Bekiesch
P.S. This is the garden alchemy I swear by—watch how weeds and scraps transform into a plant-growing potion (and learn the secret to using it without burning roots!). I’ve been using this method for years—now it’s your turn! Watch the tutorial below, then tell me in the comments: What will YOU feed with it first?
