Planting guide

What to plant in Melbourne, Australia in July

Cool temperate Southern Hemisphere July

July is Melbourne's coldest month, but a cool temperate winter here is mild enough that a well-chosen vegetable patch keeps producing right through it — the key is picking frost-tolerant crops and giving them full sun.

Plant now

Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts

Cool-season brassicas that thrive in Melbourne's winter chill; give them the sunniest spot available.

Silverbeet and spinach

Fast, reliable leafy greens for winter; both keep cropping for months once established.

Broad beans and peas

Frost-resistant and well suited to sowing now for a spring harvest.

Kale

Cold makes kale sweeter, not weaker — one of the most forgiving winter crops for Melbourne.

Carrots (succession sow)

Grow more slowly in winter, so sow a new batch every 4-6 weeks to keep a constant supply coming rather than one large sowing.

Timing notes

  • Enrich beds with compost and aged manure before planting — winter vegetables need richer soil to keep growing through the cold than summer crops do.
  • Full sun matters more in winter than any other season here — Melbourne's low winter sun angle means a spot shaded even part of the day will visibly slow growth.
  • Onions can go in any time through winter and are harvested once the tops yellow and fall over, usually in late spring/summer.
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