Plant library

Growing guides checked by local gardeners, with planting times worked out from 30 years of climate data.

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Basil
HerbA fragrant summer herb that loves Adelaide's heat and pairs with tomatoes in the garden and the kitchen. Sow or plant once nights stay warm, as cold snaps blacken it. Pinch out the flower spikes and tips often to keep plants bushy and leafy.
Bay tree
HerbA slow-growing Mediterranean evergreen whose leaves flavour soups, stocks and stews. It suits Adelaide well: it handles hot, dry summers, wet winters and light frost. Grow it in a large pot or clip it as a hedge to keep it from reaching 8 m.
Bok choy
VegetableA fast Asian green that's ready in 6 to 8 weeks, ideal for autumn and early spring in Adelaide. It bolts to seed quickly in heat and lengthening days, so sow in cooler months and pick young. Keep it well watered for tender, juicy stems.
Calendula
Companion flowerA tough, sunny cool-season flower with edible petals. It attracts hoverflies and ladybirds that eat aphids, and keeps flowering through autumn, winter and spring when little else does. A great partner for brassicas and salad greens.
Cape gooseberry
FruitA fast, sprawling shrub from South America with sweet-tart golden berries inside papery husks. In Adelaide it fruits from summer into autumn, about five to six months after planting, and lasts two or three years in frost-free spots. Frost kills it, so plant out after the last frost or grow in a pot.
Capsicum
VegetableA warm-season crop that thrives in Adelaide summers, giving sweet peppers from midsummer into autumn. Plant only once soil and nights are warm, as cold checks growth for weeks. Water deeply and regularly; dry spells cause flower drop and blossom end rot.
Carambola
Fruit treeA small tropical tree with waxy, star-shaped fruit that crops for much of the year in the tropics. It also grows in warm subtropical gardens with shelter from wind and cold. It is frost-tender, so in cool climates grow it in a large pot under cover. Choose a sweet variety.
Chilli
VegetableA warm-season crop that loves Adelaide's hot summers and keeps fruiting into autumn. Many types grow happily in pots and can be kept for two or three years in a sheltered spot. Raise or buy seedlings and plant once nights are warm; chillies sulk in cold soil.
Chives
HerbA tough perennial clump with mild onion-flavoured leaves and edible purple flowers that bees love. It grows in garden beds or pots and comes back each spring. Cut leaves near the base often, and divide clumps every few years to keep them vigorous.
Coriander
HerbA fast herb grown for leaves, seeds and roots. In Adelaide it bolts to seed in a few weeks of warm weather, so it does best sown in autumn and late winter. Sow directly where it's to grow and keep sowing small batches every few weeks.
Dragon fruit
FruitA climbing cactus with spectacular night flowers and bright fruit. It grows well in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate areas, and in sheltered frost-free spots further south. It needs a strong post or trellis and full sun. In cold climates grow it in a big pot under cover. It has escaped into bush in parts of eastern Australia.
Eggplant
VegetableA heat-loving summer crop that does very well in Adelaide once it gets going. Plant seedlings only when nights are reliably warm and keep them sheltered from cold winds. Water deeply and feed regularly; well-fed plants crop from midsummer to autumn.
Finger lime
BushfoodA rainforest citrus whose finger-shaped fruit is filled with zesty 'caviar' pearls. In Adelaide it needs protection from hot afternoon sun and wind, and regular water. Grafted plants fruit in 2 to 3 years and suit large pots.
French marigold
Companion flowerThe classic companion flower for the veggie patch. Bright, compact and easy, it flowers all summer and draws in hoverflies, whose larvae eat aphids. Tuck it beside tomatoes, capsicum and zucchini, and along bed edges.
Garlic chives
HerbA tough perennial with flat, garlic-flavoured leaves and white starry flowers in late summer. It handles Adelaide's heat better than common chives and dies back a little in winter. Toxic to dogs and cats, so keep pets away from it.
Ginger
HerbA tropical plant grown for its spicy rhizomes. In Adelaide treat it as a warm-season pot plant: plant in mid to late spring, keep it warm and moist through summer, then harvest when the leaves die back in late autumn or winter. Move pots to shelter over winter.
Kohlrabi
VegetableA crisp, mild cabbage relative grown for its swollen stem, ready in about 8 to 10 weeks. In Adelaide, sow from late summer to autumn and again in early spring. Pick when tennis-ball size or smaller for the sweetest flavour.
Lemon
Fruit treeAdelaide's classic backyard fruit tree, giving lemons most of the year. Plant in full sun with free drainage and shelter from strong wind. Citrus are hungry and shallow-rooted: feed in late winter and late summer, water deeply in summer and keep grass and mulch clear of the trunk.
Lemon balm
HerbA hardy, lemon-scented herb in the mint family, used fresh or dried for tea. In Adelaide it grows best with afternoon shade and regular water, and can scorch in full summer sun. It self-seeds and spreads, so a pot keeps it tidy.
Lemongrass
HerbA tropical clumping grass whose lemony stem bases are used in Asian cooking. It grows strongly in Adelaide's summer but slows and can brown off in cold winters, so plant in a warm, sunny spot or a large pot. Plant in spring and water well in hot weather.
Lettuce
VegetableA quick salad crop for most of the year in Adelaide, with leafy types ready in 6 to 8 weeks. It prefers cooler months; in summer give afternoon shade and plenty of water, or it bolts and turns bitter. Sow small amounts often for a steady supply.
Mandarin
Fruit treeAn easy, compact citrus that's ideal for Adelaide backyards and large pots, with sweet fruit from autumn to spring depending on variety. Like all citrus it needs full sun, free drainage and regular feeding. Choose a mix of early and late varieties to stretch the season.
Mint
HerbA vigorous perennial herb for tea, salads and cooking that spreads quickly by runners. Grow it in a pot (or a pot sunk in the ground) to stop it taking over beds. It likes moisture and some afternoon shade in Adelaide summers.
Mizuna
VegetableA fast, frilly Asian green with a mild mustard flavour, great in salads. In Adelaide it grows best from autumn to early spring and runs to seed as the weather warms. Pick leaves as you need them and it keeps cropping for weeks.
Nasturtium
Companion flowerA cheerful, edible trailing flower that works as a trap crop: aphids and cabbage white caterpillars often go for it first, sparing your veggies. Peppery leaves and flowers are lovely in salads. Easy from seed, even in poor soil.
Orange
Fruit treeSweet oranges grow well in Adelaide's warm, dry summers, as the Riverland orchards show. Washington navels are the classic eating orange, ripening in winter; Valencias ripen in spring and summer and are best for juice. Plant in full sun with free drainage, feed well and water deeply in summer.
Oregano
HerbA tough Mediterranean perennial herb that thrives in Adelaide's hot dry summers and poor soils. Its flowers draw bees and beneficial insects. Give it full sun and free drainage; rich soil and too much water make it lanky and less flavoursome.
Parsley
HerbA biennial herb that gives leaves for months, sown or planted in autumn or spring in Adelaide. Seed is slow to germinate (up to 3 weeks), so many gardeners buy seedlings. Pick outer stems regularly and keep the plant watered to delay flowering.
Pineapple
FruitA spiky bromeliad that fruits outdoors in the tropics and subtropics and in warm, frost-free temperate gardens. Plant a store-bought top or a sucker in spring in free-draining soil. It takes about two years to fruit. In cool climates grow it in a pot and bring it in for winter.
Pomegranate
Fruit treeA tough, deciduous shrub or small tree with bright orange-red flowers and jewel-seeded fruit in autumn. It is made for Adelaide: it loves long hot summers, handles frost, alkaline soil and dry spells, and needs little chill. Water evenly as fruit ripens to stop it splitting.
Radish
VegetableThe fastest crop in the garden, with round radishes ready in about 4 weeks. Sow seed directly almost all year in Adelaide, avoiding the hottest weeks when they get hot and pithy. Keep moist and pick on time; left too long they turn woody and split.
River mint
BushfoodA native mint with a fresh spearmint flavour that grows naturally along creeks. It needs moist soil and some shade in Adelaide. Grow it in a pot or a damp corner and cut it back often for fresh growth.
Rocket
VegetableA fast, peppery salad green that's ready in about 4 weeks and does best in Adelaide's cooler months. In warm weather it bolts and gets very hot, so give summer sowings shade. Pick leaves young and often.
Spring onion
VegetableA quick, easy onion grown for green stems rather than bulbs, ready in 8 to 10 weeks. Sow little and often almost all year in Adelaide. Bunching (Welsh) types can be cut again and again or left to form clumps.
Strawberry
FruitA favourite for gardens and pots that fruits from spring into summer. Plant runners in autumn or winter into rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soil, keeping the crown at soil level. Mulch with straw to keep fruit clean, and net against birds.
Sweet alyssum
Companion flowerA low carpet of tiny honey-scented flowers that feeds hoverflies and tiny parasitic wasps, two of the best aphid and caterpillar hunters. Edge your beds with it, or tuck it between lettuces and brassicas. Flowers most of the year in Adelaide.
Tahitian lime
Fruit treeThe easiest lime for home gardens: large, seedless fruit on an almost thornless tree, cropping mainly from autumn into winter. In Adelaide plant it in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot such as against a north-facing wall. It is less cold hardy than lemons, so protect young trees from frost in the Hills.
Tatsoi
VegetableA low rosette of dark, spoon-shaped leaves with a mild flavour, used like baby spinach. In Adelaide, sow from late summer to autumn and again in late winter; it bolts quickly in hot weather. It is quick, cold hardy and suits pots.
Thai basil
HerbA basil with purple stems and an aniseed flavour for Thai and Vietnamese cooking. It handles heat and humidity better than sweet basil and is slower to bolt. Grow it year round in the tropics and through the warm months in the subtropics and the south. Frost kills it.
Thyme
HerbA small, tough Mediterranean herb that thrives in Adelaide's hot, dry conditions and suits pots, edges and rockeries. Full sun and free drainage are essential. Trim regularly to keep plants compact; the flowers are excellent for bees.
Tomato
VegetableThe most popular summer crop in Adelaide, planted once soil and nights are warm and picked from midsummer to autumn. Stake or cage plants and mulch well. Deep, regular watering is the key; dry-wet cycles cause blossom end rot and split fruit.
Turmeric
HerbA leafy ginger relative grown for its bright orange rhizomes. It thrives in the tropics and subtropics and can be grown in pots or a warm, sheltered spot in the south. Plant pieces in spring into warm soil, then dig the rhizomes when the leaves yellow in late autumn or winter.