Omari Gates
November in Australia is a great time to get outdoors and prepare your garden for the summer. It's a wonderful month for planting a range of flowers, vegetables, and herbs. You can also start mowing more frequently, pruning spring flowers, and checking that shallow-rooted plants aren't drying out. It's also a good time to fertilise lemon trees and feed tree ferns. If you're looking for some exercise and a way to boost your mood, gardening can be a great workout, with activities like weeding, digging, mulching, planting, and raking. So get out there and start planning for a colourful and fruitful summer garden!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vegetables | Capsicum, chilli, cucumber, squash, tomatoes, sweet corn, eggplant, lettuce, zucchini, rocket, capsicums, cucumber, eggplant, endive, lettuce, pumpkin, melon, carrot, corn, daikon, parsnip, peas, radish, rocket, beetroot, beans, celery, pumpkin, rockmelon, carrot, parsnip, sweet corn |
| Fruits | Avocado, citrus, fruit trees, tomatoes, strawberries |
| Flowers | Alyssum, calibrachoa, columbine, cornflower, cosmos, daisy, delphinium, gazania, geranium, gerbera, penstemon, petunia, snapdragon, New Guinea impatiens, salvia, stock, magnolia grandiflora, ceanothus, duranta, flowering cherry, gardenia, hibiscus, jacaranda, lavender, NZ Christmas bush, plumbago, rhododendron, boronia, bottlebrush, flame tree, Geraldton wax, melaleuca, native frangipani, NSW Christmas bush, silky oak, ageratum, French marigold, lobelia, nasturtium, portulaca, snow-in-summer, agapanthus, arum lily, calla lily, canna, hippeastrum, iris, November lily |
| Herbs | Basil, coriander, chilli, dill, coriander, chervil, mustard greens, annual herbs, coriander, chervil |
| Gardening Activities | Mulching, weeding, pruning, mowing, fertilising, repotting, trimming, cutting, planting, digging, raking, summer-proofing |
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What You'll Learn
Prepare for summer
With summer just around the corner, it's time to prepare your garden for the hot summer days ahead. Here are some tips to get your outdoor space ready:
Gardening and Planting
- It is time to plant a range of vegetables, including capsicum, chilli, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, pumpkin, tomato, zucchini, and basil.
- For those in frost-free or light frost areas, you can also start planting capsicums, squash, sweet corn, rocket, and more.
- November is a great month to plant flowers such as alyssum, cornflower, cosmos, daisy, geranium, petunia, snapdragon, and salvia.
- If you have clay soil, dig in some gypsum to help soften it and make watering easier.
- Prune any spring growth that is fading in the heat, and cut back plants that don't like the summer heat, such as lavender.
- Trim jasmine polyanthum and lightly prune native shrubs after flowering.
- For roses, cut the flowers for indoor displays to prolong flowering.
- Fertilise lemon trees and feed tree ferns with half-strength liquid fertiliser.
- If you have a grafted fruit tree, check for and cut off any shoots growing from below the graft.
- Divide and repot orchids if they have formed a dense clump.
Weeding and Mulching
- Get a head start on summer weeding by tackling spring weeds before they become more established next year.
- Make sure your garden beds are well-mulched to capture and retain any November rain.
- Put down some Dynamic Lifter or cow manure under the mulch to give your plants an extra boost.
Summer-Proofing
- Create shade cloth tents to protect sun-sensitive vegetables from the summer heat.
- Move tender pot plants away from areas with excessive late-afternoon sun.
- Summer-proof your lawn to prepare for lazy summer days.
- Add bursts of colour with flowering plants or spruce up your outdoor furniture.
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Flowers and vegetables
Flowers
November is a great month for planting a wide range of flowers in Australia. You can plant container-grown trees, shrubs, and climbers of all kinds, including dwarf fruit trees.
For flowers, you can plant alyssum, calibrachoa, columbine, cornflower, cosmos, daisy, delphinium, gazania, geranium, gerbera, penstemon, petunia, snapdragon, New Guinea impatiens, salvia, and stock.
November is also a good month for Australian natives like boronia, bottlebrush, flame tree, Geraldton wax, melaleuca, native frangipani, and silky oak. You can also plant spring flowers like Tasmanian Waratahs, which start to flower fully in November, glowing a brilliant red. Other spring flowers include the Australian Native Isopogon, which comes in a range of colours and varying foliage, and the pinky-purple Cone Flower.
Other flowers to plant in November include:
- Bougainvillea
- Hibiscus
- Lavender
- Jasmine
- Magnolia grandiflora
- Ceanothus
- Duranta
- Flowering cherry
- Gardenia
- Jacaranda
- NZ Christmas bush
- Plumbago
- Rhododendron
Vegetables
November is a great month to start your green gym in Australia, with warming soil and temperatures. You can plant a wide range of vegetables, including:
- Beans
- Beetroot
- Capsicum
- Carrot
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Herbs (including dill, chamomile, parsley, oregano, rosemary, rue, thyme, sage, basil, coriander, chilli, and Mediterranean herbs)
- Lettuce
- Parsnip
- Pumpkin
- Rockmelon
- Sweet corn
- Tomato
- Zucchini
- Leeks
- Silverbeet
- Squash
- Potatoes
- Radishes
- Spring onions
- Asian cabbages
- Kale
- Mustard greens
- Tubers (such as oca)
- Chives
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Herbs and citrus trees
Herbs
Herbs are great to grow in November in Australia. They are easy to grow in pots, planters, or outdoors in the garden. You can grow herbs from seeds or cuttings. The best herbs to grow are the ones you will use the most. Consider what dishes you normally cook and what flavours you enjoy.
Most herbs prefer to grow in full sun, so position them in a spot where they will receive at least half a day of direct sunlight. However, some herbs, like chives, coriander, lemon balm, mint, and parsley, can grow in slightly more shaded spots.
Herbs with soft, rich green leaves, like basil, coriander, and mint, will thrive with regular watering, especially during hot and dry conditions. Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage can tolerate drought-like conditions, provided they are well established.
To boost plant growth, feed herbs regularly with liquid plant food. Pinch or remove flower buds from herbs like basil, sage, and thyme to help them last longer. This doesn't work for coriander, which can often prematurely 'bolt'. It's best to plant coriander at the start of the cooler months and look for a 'slow bolt' variety.
Citrus Trees
Citrus trees are one of the most loved tree varieties grown in Australian backyards. Growing lemon trees, oranges, mandarins, limes, and other citrus fruits is a great way to add colour to your garden and grow your own tasty produce.
Citrus trees require a bit of love, attention, and the right growing conditions to thrive. They need to be watered regularly in their first year of life and planted in soil that drains quickly. Citrus trees should be planted in an area that gets at least five hours of sunshine per day. They can also be grown alongside walls that get a lot of sunlight so that the heat from the wall can warm the tree.
The Australian climate provides optimal conditions for growing mandarin trees. Lemon Eureka is the most common lemon grown in home gardens, bearing an abundance of large, juicy lemons all year round. Tahitian Limes produce thin-skinned, round, seedless limes and are well-suited to the Australian climate, preferring to be planted in sheltered areas within cooler climates.
Fertilise lemon trees and check that the soil around the trees is not drying out.
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Gardening jobs
November is a great month to get your garden ready for summer. Here are some gardening jobs to keep you busy:
Prepare for summer
With summer around the corner, it's time to prepare your garden for the hot summer days. Check on shallow-rooted plants to ensure they are not drying out, and start mowing more frequently. You can also prune any spring growth that is fading in the heat and cut back plants that don't like the summer heat, such as lavender.
Mulching
Make sure your garden beds are well mulched to capture and retain the November rain. Place some Dynamic Lifter or cow manure under the mulch to give your plants a boost.
Weeding
Weeding is an excellent workout and a great way to relieve stress! Get rid of those spring weeds before they get well established, or they will be back tenfold next year.
Planting
November is a wonderful month for planting a range of flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Add bursts of colour with flowering plants such as alyssum, cornflowers, daisies, geraniums, and petunias. You can also plant vegetables like capsicums, cucumbers, tomatoes, and zucchini. If you have herbs, now is the time to plant heat-loving varieties such as basil, coriander, and chilli.
Pest control
Keep an eye out for pests such as snails, slugs, and caterpillars. Use snail bait around vegetable beds and organic products like Nature's Way Caterpillar Killer Dipel to control pests without harming beneficial insects.
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Pest control
Common Pests in Australia
First, let's identify some of the common pests you may encounter in an Australian garden:
- Ants, spiders, bees, and termites are frequent visitors to Melbourne properties, especially during the warmer months of September, October, and November.
- Snails and slugs are introduced species in Australia and can cause significant damage to seedlings, leaves, fruits, and plant seeds.
- African black beetles can affect a wide variety of plants, including potatoes, grapevines, and vegetable crops. They feed on roots and underground stems, leading to the death of the plant.
- Lace bugs can cause damage to azalea plants, resulting in a bleached or bronze appearance on the leaves.
- Aphids are most active during spring and summer and can spread diseases as they move from plant to plant.
- Brushtail possums can become pests when they seek shelter in roof cavities of homes, creating a disturbance.
Natural Pest Control Methods
Now, let's explore some eco-friendly ways to control these pests:
- Encourage natural predators: Ladybirds, lacewings, and parasitic wasps are natural predators of scale insects. By growing certain flowers, you can attract these beneficial insects to your garden, helping to control scale insects and other pests.
- Use companion planting: Certain plants can help repel pests. For example, sage repels ants and onion maggots, rosemary repels insects such as whitefly, and garlic confuses and repels carrot flies and cabbage butterflies.
- Keep plants off the ground: Snails and slugs thrive in moist environments and target plants close to the ground. Growing plants in pots or raised beds can help protect them from these pests.
- Prune and clean: Regularly prune your plants to remove damaged foliage and keep an eye out for eggs or bug activity, especially on the undersides of leaves.
- Natural repellents: You can use natural repellents like horticultural glues to block ants' access to trees, or essential oils to deter specific pests without causing harm to your plants.
- Netting: Use fine mesh netting to cover your plants and protect them from larger pests like possums, birds, and insects.
Professional Pest Control
If you're facing a severe infestation, it may be best to call in professional pest control services. They can provide tailored solutions and treatments to effectively manage and prevent pest infestations. Regular pest control inspections, especially before the warmer months, can help keep your home pest-free throughout the year.
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Frequently asked questions
November is a great month to plant vegetables like capsicum, chilli, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, pumpkin, tomato, zucchini, carrot, and beetroot.
Flowers like alyssum, cornflower, cosmos, daisy, geranium, petunia, snapdragon, salvia, and marigold are great for planting in November.
You can plant fruits like avocado, citrus fruits, and tomatoes. It is also a good time to fertilise lemon trees.
Make sure to mulch your garden beds, trim Australian native plants, and prune spring flowers. You can also create a water feature and set up some shade cloth tents to protect sun-sensitive plants.
