What to Plant in Winter in Perth

Perth's mild, wet winters are the best growing season for cool-season crops

Perth's winter is a gift for vegetable gardeners. While summer means battling heat, sandy soil, and water restrictions, winter brings reliable rainfall, mild temperatures, and a huge range of crops that thrive in these conditions. Perth's winter days average 17-19 degrees with overnight lows around 8-10 degrees. That is close to ideal for brassicas, root vegetables, leafy greens, and legumes.

The wet season runs from May to September, delivering 450-500 millimetres of Perth's annual rainfall. Your garden essentially waters itself, a welcome break from the drip-irrigation routine of summer.

Brassicas: The Stars of Perth's Winter Garden

Perth's winter temperatures suit brassicas perfectly. Plant seedlings from March through to May for harvests from June to September.

• Broccoli: Transplant seedlings in March or April. Green Magic and Di Cicco are reliable varieties available at most Perth nurseries. Expect heads in 10-12 weeks. After cutting the main head, side shoots continue producing for weeks.
• Cauliflower: Needs consistent conditions. Plant in April for a July to August harvest. Snowball is the standard variety. Space 50 centimetres apart in enriched soil.
• Cabbage: Sugarloaf and Golden Acre mature quickly in Perth's mild winter. Transplant from March to May. Ready in 10-14 weeks.
• Kale: Tuscan kale (also called cavolo nero) thrives through Perth's entire winter. Plant in March and harvest leaves continuously from May onwards. Extremely productive and handles the occasional cool night without fuss.

Brassicas are heavy feeders. Dig in plenty of compost and aged manure before planting. Side-dress with blood and bone or a balanced organic fertiliser every 3-4 weeks. White cabbage moth caterpillars are the main pest; cover plants with fine netting or spray with Dipel (Bacillus thuringiensis) weekly.

Root Vegetables

Perth's sandy soil, usually a disadvantage, is actually ideal for root vegetables. Carrots and parsnips grow straight and clean in sand without the forking common in clay soils.

• Carrots: Sow seed directly from March to July. Nantes and Chantenay types perform well in Perth sand. Thin seedlings to 3-4 centimetres apart. Keep the soil surface moist until germination (7-14 days). Harvest in 10-14 weeks.
• Beetroot: Sow from March to July. Detroit Dark Red and Bull's Blood are reliable. Soak seeds for 12-24 hours before sowing to speed germination. Thin to 10 centimetres apart.
• Turnips: Fast growing and underrated. Sow from April to June for a 6-8 week harvest. Purple Top White Globe is the standard variety.
• Radishes: The quickest winter crop. Sow every 2-3 weeks from March to August for continuous picking. Ready in 4-6 weeks. Cherry Belle and French Breakfast are dependable choices.

Peas and Broad Beans

Legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, making them valuable for building up Perth's nutrient-poor sand. They also produce generous harvests through winter and early spring.

• Garden peas: Sow from April to July. Greenfeast and Telephone are tall climbing varieties that need a trellis. Sugar Snap peas produce edible pods that are excellent raw. Direct sow into the garden; peas dislike transplanting.
• Snow peas: Sow from April to July alongside garden peas. Oregon Sugar Pod is the classic variety. Pick pods flat and young before the peas inside swell.
• Broad beans: The toughest legume for cool conditions. Sow from April to June. Aquadulce and Coles Dwarf are proven in Perth. Space 15-20 centimetres apart in double rows. Pinch out the growing tips once the first pods form to deter aphids and redirect energy to pod filling.

Leafy Greens and Salad Crops

Perth's winter provides the cool, moist conditions that leafy greens love. Summer lettuces bolt within weeks; winter lettuces hold for months.

• Lettuce: Sow or transplant from March to August. Cos (romaine), butter, and oakleaf varieties all perform well. Succession sow every 3 weeks for continuous salad greens.
• Spinach: True spinach (Bloomsdale or English spinach) grows best in Perth's winter. Sow from April to July. Pick outer leaves regularly to keep plants productive.
• Silverbeet: Perth's most forgiving leafy green. Plant from March onwards and harvest for 6 months or more. Fordhook Giant is the standard. Rainbow chard adds colour to the garden.
• Asian greens: Bok choy, pak choy, and tatsoi all thrive in Perth's mild winter. Sow from March to July. Fast growing and ready in 6-8 weeks.

Garlic and Onions

Perth's winter is the time to plant alliums for a late spring and summer harvest.

• Garlic: Plant cloves in April or May, pointy end up, 5 centimetres deep and 15 centimetres apart. Australian White and Italian Late are suited to Perth's climate. Harvest in October or November when the bottom leaves turn brown. Buy seed garlic from garden centres (supermarket garlic is often treated to prevent sprouting).
• Onions: Transplant seedlings from April to June. Brown onions and red onions both grow well. Choose short-day varieties suited to Perth's latitude. Harvest from October to November.

Winter Planting Calendar for Perth

March to April: Plant brassica seedlings. Sow carrots, beetroot, lettuce, spinach, and silverbeet. Plant garlic cloves.

May to June: Sow peas, broad beans, and Asian greens. Last chance for brassica seedlings. Continue successive lettuce sowings.

July to August: Sow more peas, carrots, and radishes. Begin planning spring plantings. Start tomato seeds indoors in late July.

Frequently Asked Questions