Brisbane's subtropical climate is ideal for growing vegetables year-round.
Brisbane, on the coast of Queensland in Western Australia, has a subtropical climate good for growing vegetables all year long. The species that thrive here form an almost endless list and include tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, okra, pepper, asparagus, spinach, zucchini and many more. The first steps for you to take toward making your garden in Brisbane is to measure the land you have available for planting, list the vegetables you’d like to grow, and plan your garden according to each plant’s growing season.
Instructions
1. Find the ideal planting site. The vegetable planting bed needs three basic conditions: full sun exposure, ground with fast drainage and rich soil. Make the bed's width 3 feet so you can reach all your plants from the edge.
2. Prepare the vegetable bed in August. Amend the Western Australia sandy soil, which doesn’t retain moisture well on its own, with compost or manure. Break up the soil surface to a depth of 8 to 12 inches and mix it with a 4-inch layer of organic matter. If you have clay soil, use a rake to spread two-thirds cup of gypsum for each 3 square feet of soil surface. In addition, apply a layer of compost or manure. Clay soils need this treatment repeated every six months, according to the Brisbane Organic Growers Inc.
3. Test your soil’s pH. Most vegetables thrive in slightly alkaline conditions. Tomatoes, sweet potatoes and potatoes prefer it slightly acidic. If your topsoil is too acidic for your crops, amend it with 1 cup of dolomite. If it’s too alkaline, "add barrow loads of manure and leaf mould," recommends Brisbane Organic Growers, Inc.
4. Irrigate the planting bed the day before you plan to sow your vegetable seeds.
5. Sow the seeds at a depth twice their diameter and firm the soil. Space requirements vary from vegetable to vegetable. Follow them to avoid weak, prone-to-disease plants, and poor-quality produce. Seed packages usually offer spacing instructions. If not, ask your local garden supply shop.
6. Install a soaker hose on the planting bed to keep the seeds moist. Strong jets from another irrigation system might displace the seeds. In Brisbane subtropical climate, you may have to water your bed up to three times a day to keep the seeds from drying out.
7. Mulch the seedbed with a layer of compost to provide nutrients and conserve moisture.
8. Fertilize your seedlings. You have different options, from commercial synthetic formulas, store-bought natural mixes, to organic matter, such as rotted sawdust. The Brisbane Organic Growers Inc. recommends a biweekly application of seaweed extract.
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