Although we’re in the midst of the winter season here in Brisbane there is plenty of opportunities to pull out the gardening gloves and get dirty in the garden. From mulching the garden beds, to shaping the hedges, trimming the trees, and preparing for the sunny and warm Spring ahead, there is sure to be enough to keep you busy in the garden this month.

With the cost-of-living skyrocketing, there’s never been a better time to become self-sufficient and start growing your own edible garden. With plenty of vegetables and herbs available to grow and harvest in July, there’s nothing stopping you from creating your very own farm-to-table meals.

The best way to ensure you have a bountiful harvest is the groundwork, literally. If your soil isn’t prepped it can limit the growth and output of your plants. When preparing your plot, be sure to mix through compost such as Rocky Point Active Gro and a generous application of Neutrog Seamungus. Seamungus is an easy to use pellet containing composted seaweed, fish, humic acid and chicken manure. Once your soil is prepped it is time to start planting.

• Asian Greens
• Beetroot
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Chives

• Celery
• Kale
• Leek
• Lettuce
• Radish
• Rocket

• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spring Onion
• Tomato
• Strawberry

Most herbs can also be planted now, including Basil, Coriander, Thyme, Marjoram, Oregano, Dill, and Mint. Rocky Rocky Point Lucerne or Pea Straw Mulch is the perfect mulch for around your vegetable and herb plants. These legume mulches will retain moisture, suppress weeds, and will add much-needed nitrogen. This feeds the soil and your plants!

If you’re looking for something exciting to grow, you could try berries. There are many types of berries available to plant in the home garden, but our favourite to grow are blueberries. Blueberries are high yielding with the potential of producing up to 4kg of blueberries each growing season. These tasty berries are packed full of antioxidants and are proven to be beneficial to both diet and health.

This is also a great time to plant seed potatoes, so you have a bountiful crop come spring and summer. Cover with straw to protect new shoots as they will grow up and through it, reapply straw as the shoots grow if frost damage is likely. Trust us when we say, homegrown potatoes are the best-tasting potatoes, so it is worth having a go at growing these yourself. To discover more make sure to read our blog on How to grow Seed Potatoes

This is a great time to plant citrus trees. Citrus comes in many varieties and size options, so they can be the perfect choice for pots and smaller gardens if space is hard to come by.

July is the perfect month to clean up your garden. Many trees, shrubs, hedges, and perennials will be in dire need of a good prune back or tidy up. Avoid pruning evergreen plants that will flower in the spring. Wait until after flowering before pruning and always feed any plants that you have pruned with a high-quality fertiliser such as Terra Firma Organic Life or Searles 5 in 1 Plant Food to encourage new growth.

Continue to top up your mulch if needed. It looks great and is the best way to keep your garden weed-free and climatised, as it will retain moisture and warmth.

The vibrant colours of camelias, roses, and azaleas should be on display throughout your winter garden this month. Take some time to admire your beautiful garden and the life that can exist throughout winter. Make sure to deadhead any spent flowers to encourage your winter garden looks beautiful for the entire season. There are still plenty of winter flowering plants available this month that will add colour to your garden. Come in-store today and check out our range.

Happy Gardening from Nicholas and the team at Capalaba Produce