What Seeds To Plant In July
🌱 Your July Gardening Guide for Australia 🌱
Wrap yourself in a scarf and step into the garden—there’s still plenty to do!
July might feel like the deep heart of winter for many Aussie gardeners, especially in the southern zones, but don’t be fooled—this quiet season has its own kind of productivity. While the planting window is narrow for cooler areas, it’s prime time for those in the Sub-Tropics and Tropics, where warm days and cooler nights offer the perfect conditions for a wide range of crops.
For the rest of us? Think of July as a “pause and prepare” month. There’s beauty in the slower pace. Whether it’s sowing a few hardy favourites, refreshing your garden tools, or improving your soil for spring, it’s all part of the seasonal rhythm. This is the month for tending, tidying, and planning ahead—your future garden will thank you for it.
🌿 What You Can Plant in July – By Climate Zone 🌿
If you are not sure of your climate zone, check out the climate zone map.
Cool Mountain
Vegetable: Broad Beans
Arid
Vegetable: Artichokes, Beetroot, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Carrot, Celery, Chicory, Endive, Florence Fennel, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mizuna, Mustard Spinach, Onion, Pak Choy, Parsnip, Peas, Radish, Silverbeet, Spinach, Turnip
Herb: Calendula, Chives, Dill, Lemon Balm, Lovage, Marshmallow, Mint, Sage, Sorrel, Thyme, Winter Savory, Yarrow
Flower: Alyssum, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Marigold, Snapdragon, Sweetpeas
Temperate
Vegetable: Beetroot, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Mustard Spinach, Onion, Peas, Radish, Strawberry
Herb: Chamomile, Dill, Parsley, Salad Burnet
Flower: Everlastings, Snapdragon, Sweetpeas
Sub-Tropical
Vegetable: Beetroot, Carrot, Endive, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustard Spinach, Parsnip, Peas, Radish, Rocket, Silverbeet, Spinach, Onions
Herb: Agrimonia, Angelica, Bergamot, Borage, Calendula, Chamomile, Chives, Comfrey, Dill, Heart’s Ease, Marshmallow, Nettle, Salad Burnet, Wormwood
Flower: Carnation, Celosia, Cornflower, Cosmos, Dahlia, Dianthus, Everlastings, Gaillardia, Honesty, Larkspur, Lavender, Livingstone Daisy, Marigold, Native Iris, Pansy, Queen Anne’s Lace, Rose Mallow, Salvia, Shasta Daisy, Snapdragon, Stock, Sweetpeas, Zinnia
Tropical
Vegetable: Amaranth, Artichokes, Asparagus, Beans, Borage, Broccoli, Burdock, Cabbage, Cape Gooseberry, Capsicum, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chilli, Chinese Cabbage, Cucumber, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Kale, Kohlrabi, Luffa, Mizuna, Mustard Spinach, Okra, Onion, Pak Choy, Parsley, Pumpkin, Radish, Rockmelon, Salsify, Shallots, Silverbeet, Onions Bunching, Squash, Sunflower, Sweet Corn, Tomatillo, Tomato, Warrigal Greens, Watermelon, Zucchini
Herb: Agrimonia, Angelica, Basil, Bergamot, Borage, Calendula, Catnip, Chives, Comfrey, Coriander, Dandelion, Echinacea, Feverfew, Gypsophilia, Heart’s Ease, Hyssop, Larkspur, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lovage, Marjoram, Marshmallow, Mint, Nettle, Oregano, Perilla, Sage, Salad Burnet, Sorrel, Summer Savory, Tansy, Valerian, Yarrow
Flower: Ageratum, Alyssum, Amaranth, Aster, Carnation, Celosia, Chrysanthemum, Cornflower, Cosmos, Dahlia, Dianthus, Gaillardia, Gypsophilia, Honesty, Livingstone Daisy, Marigold, Mugwort, Nasturtium, Nigella, Pansy, Poppy, Queen Anne’s Lace, Rose Mallow, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Shasta Daisy, Stock, Swan River Daisy, Veronica, Winter Savory, Wormwood, Zinnia
🛠 Tasks for the July Garden 🛠
Even if you’re not doing much planting, July is a perfect time to tick off these essential winter garden jobs:
1. 🧰 Tool TLC
Dust off your secateurs, spades, and shears. Clean off any dirt or sap, sharpen blades, and give wooden handles a rub with linseed oil. Not only will your tools last longer, but you’ll reduce the risk of spreading disease around your garden.
2. 🪣 Container Cleanup
Wash and sterilise used seed trays, pots, and propagation gear. This simple task can make all the difference when it comes time to sow in spring.
3. 🌱 Green Manure Time
If you’ve got garden beds sitting fallow, now’s a good time to sow green manure crops.
- In cooler zones, try fava beans or field peas.
- In warmer zones, mung beans are a solid choice.
Let them grow until just before flowering—then cut them down and dig them in to boost your soil’s organic matter and microbial life.
4. 🍂 Tidy and Mulch
Clear out fallen leaves or debris, especially around fruit trees or perennials, to prevent fungal diseases. Top up mulch where needed to keep soil temperature steady and protect roots.
5. ✂️ Pruning & Planning 🗺
In colder zones, July is a traditional time for winter pruning of deciduous fruit trees, roses, and grapevines. It’s also a great moment to sketch out your spring garden—think crop rotation, succession planting, and what new varieties you’d like to try.
In colder zones, July is a traditional time for winter pruning of deciduous fruit trees, roses, and grapevines. It’s also a great moment to sketch out your spring garden—think crop rotation, succession planting, and what new varieties you’d like to try.
Even though the days are short, there’s something cozy and rewarding about winter gardening. So pull on your wellies, embrace the slower pace, and give your garden some love—it’ll pay off in spades come spring. 💚
