GrowCalAustralia

Melbourne, VIC · Cool temperate

What to plant in Melbourne in August

A data-backed august starting point for the Melbourne & Port Phillip growing profile. GrowCal uses this profile to resolve the baseline schedule for each plant.

What to plant in August

These plants have dated GrowCal schedule data for this regional profile and include a sow or plant-out action in August. Select a plant name to read its broader Australian guide.

Apple

Plant out

Buy bare-rooted in winter and match the variety to your winter chill. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Apricot

Plant out

Wants a dry spring — wet flowering weather ruins the crop. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Asparagus

Plant out

A twenty-year crop: plant crowns in winter, then wait before your first real pick. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Beetroot

Sow seeds

Thin seedlings early — each seed cluster produces several plants. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Blueberry

Plant out

Match the variety to your winter chill and keep the soil acidic. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Cabbage

Sow seeds

Space generously and net against cabbage whites. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Celery

Sow seeds

Plant in a block for longer stems, and never let it dry out. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Cherry

Plant out

The highest chill requirement of the stone fruits — a genuinely cold-climate tree. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Chilli

Sow seeds · Feed & fertilise

Start in punnets and plant out once nights are warm; pots suit cool zones. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Coriander

Sow seeds · Plant out

Sow direct into cool-season beds and keep it moist; heat and root disturbance make it bolt. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Dill

Sow seeds

Sow direct in a sheltered sunny spot; it runs to seed quickly, so keep sowing. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Fennel

Sow seeds · Plant out · Feed & fertilise

Grown for the swollen bulb; blanch it late to keep the flavour sweet. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Garlic

Plant out

Plant single cloves in full sun and free-draining soil; harvest in summer. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Kiwifruit

Plant out

Needs a strong frame, a cold winter, and usually a male and female vine. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Leek

Sow seeds

Plant deep and mound soil up the stems for a long white shank. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Lemon

Plant out

The most forgiving citrus, and the one most worth a big pot. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Lettuce

Sow seeds

Pick outer leaves and keep water up — heat and dryness turn lettuce bitter. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Lime

Plant out

Tahitian lime is the reliable backyard pick; West Indian lime resents cold. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Mandarin

Plant out

Thin-skinned and easy to peel — the best citrus for a small yard. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Mint

Sow seeds

Plant into a pot or a contained bed — mint runs, and it prefers moist soil in light shade. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Nectarine

Plant out

A smooth-skinned peach with the same pruning and fruit fly routine. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Orange

Plant out

Feed three times a year and keep the trunk clear of mulch. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Parsley

Sow seeds · Plant out

Direct sow or plant seedlings; cut outer stems at the base so the plant keeps reshooting. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Peach

Plant out

Prune every year — peaches fruit on last season's wood. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Pear

Plant out

A cool-climate tree that needs a proper winter to crop well. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Peas

Sow seeds

Get the trellis in before sowing; peas hate root disturbance. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Plum

Plant out

Most plums crop better with a second compatible variety nearby. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Potato

Plant out

Plant certified seed potatoes in well-drained soil and mound as they grow. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Raspberry

Plant out · Prune

Know whether your canes fruit in summer or autumn — it changes how you prune. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Rocket

Sow seeds

Fast, hardy and best picked young; water well or it turns hot and bitter. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Silverbeet

Sow seeds

Pick the outer leaves and one planting will feed you for most of the year. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Snow Peas

Sow seeds

Sow direct into damp soil, give them something to climb, and pick often. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Spinach

Sow seeds

Grow it fast and keep the water up, or the leaves turn bitter. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Spring Onion

Sow seeds

Grown as a cut-and-come-again crop; a few clumps cover most kitchen needs. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Strawberry

Sow seeds · Plant out · Feed & fertilise

Plant runners into free-draining soil, mulch with straw and feed while fruiting. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Thyme

Sow seeds

Full sun and gritty, free-draining soil; shear off spent flowerheads to keep new growth coming. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

Watermelon

Sow seeds · Feed & fertilise

Sow into warm soil with room to run, and ease off water once the fruit sizes up. This is a august action in the resolved GrowCal schedule.

August garden jobs

GrowCal also surfaces maintenance and harvest actions when the resolved schedule lists them for this month.

Vegetables

Herbs

Fruit & Berries

Fruit Trees & Citrus

Why timing varies locally

Melbourne is not one uniform growing environment. This page uses the mapped Melbourne & Port Phillip profile, while a nearby locality may resolve differently. Frost pockets, shade, soil, aspect and the variety you grow can all change what is sensible in a particular garden. Treat these dates as a prompt to look at your garden, not a rigid instruction.

Read the GrowCal data & methodology for sources, validation status and limitations.

Ready to plan your year?

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