What to plant in autumn (an easy, breezy guide)

After the intense heat of summer, autumn can feel like a refreshing change.

Days are still warm, nights a little cooler, and the humidity has dropped – thank garden goodness for that!

While the weather can be a little fickle and prone to rain and storms, especially up north, it’s typically a beautiful season for being outdoors. So why not get those itchy green fingers into the garden and start planting for autumn?

From raised beds and vegie gardens to what to plant and how to make the most of small spaces, this guide will have you digging, planting, pruning and pottering your way into winter!

Not only is autumn a lovely time to unleash your inner garden guru, but it’s also a smart chance to replant and reset – despite the common assumption that the growing season has ended.

Here’s why:

• Warm soil, cool air – Warm soil helps roots establish and take in nutrients, while cooler air reduces heat stress. It’s the perfect combo for happy, thriving plants!
• Less watering required – Milder weather and often higher soil moisture from autumn rains reduce evaporation and transplant shock, meaning you’ll need to reach for the hose or sprinkle less often.
• Pesky pest relief – Autumn brings a bit of a breather from bugs in the garden – with fewer peak-season pests than summer, thanks to cooler temps. A few, such as slimy, leaf-munching slugs and snails, still stick around.

Now you know you’re good to grow in autumn, what should you sow? Cooler-season vegies, herbs and flowers thrive in these milder conditions.

Here’s our pick for each:

Vegies (vegetables if we’re being proper)

• Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, bok choy – These brassicas and leafy greens do best when planted as seedlings early for a tasty wintery harvest.
• Carrots, beetroot, radish, leeks – Sow seeds now and expect some quick growth from these milder-season goodies.
• Peas, broad beans, lettuce, spinach – These healthy edibles are ideal in cooler air when there’s less pesky pests around.
• Garlic and onions – Plant cloves for these staple alliums in late autumn for cooking and salad-ready spring bulbs.

Herbs (perfect for your autumn plates)

• Parsley, coriander, oregano – These classic herbs grow fast from seeds or cuttings. They’re perfect for fresh kitchen use.
• Thyme, rosemary, sage – Hardy perennial flavour-enhancers that thrive in the milder autumn air.
• Chives, marjoram, winter tarragon – All low-fuss herb choices for pots, containers or borders – and to add to your autumn dishes.

Blooms (garden bouquets minus the spring flowers)

• Pansy, viola, calendula – Colourful and low-maintenance picks, whether you plant them in pots or beds.
• Alyssum, snapdragon, sweet pea – Fragrant and shade-tolerant varieties.
• Native picks like kangaroo paw or everlasting daisy – Drought-hardy, pretty autumn bloomers.

All these plants work well in temperate autumn climates like Sydney. Just be sure to tweak your choices based on your local conditions.

Planting in autumn? Raised garden beds shine at this time of year, here’s why:

• Drainage done right – Autumn rains can waterlog in-ground plots, but raised beds drain faster, keeping roots happy and rot-free. They’re perfect for new transplants like broccoli or parsley.
• Root-warming temps – Raised beds hold onto summer’s cosy soil heat longer, super-charging roots while cooler air keeps foliage chill. They’re an awesome April reset for herbs and greens.
• Easy peasy access – Raised beds put your vegies, herbs and blooms at waist height for easy tending. This means you can garden like a pro without yoga poses or chiropractor calls!
• Better, richer dirt – Wave goodbye to Aussie clay disasters. Raised beds let you craft a dream soil spa, complete with compost bombs now, prepping a winter feast your plants will thank you for.
• Slug and weed fortress – A raised bed acts like a plant castle with solid walls and height. Say goodbye to slimy invaders and rogue weeds and hello to a raid-free and fabulous autumn harvest.

Whatever type of outdoor space you have, or aesthetic you like, we have a heap of Raised Garden Beds to choose from in our Jack range. Check out our Square Raised Garden Bed and our Raised Garden Bed – Squared End.

Explore the range: Raised Garden Beds

See also: The 6 dos (and 6 don’ts) of raised garden beds

Whether you’re planting in autumn or any other time of year, many plants and crops do better with a little support.

From plant trainers to panels, cages and stakes, growing support comes in all shapes and sizes. But they all serve the same purpose:

• Stop stems snapping in the wind or under their own weight
• Keep plants off the soil to reduce rot and pests
• Help them grow in the right direction

But which autumn varieties need something to lean on?

Climbing edibles

• Peas and climbing beans – These legumes need trellises or netting to scramble up, preventing tangled flops and rot in damp autumn soil. Check out our Vegie Panels for some sturdy support.
• Broad beans (taller varieties) – Stake rows to hold heavy pods upright through May storms. Our basic Garden Stakes are a great pick.

Taller, weighty vegies

• Brussels sprouts, sunflowers (late crop) – Heavy heads snap easily, so make sure you use stakes or cages to stop the wobble and weight.
• Tomatoes (cool-season types) – Support sprawling vines in raised beds to boost airflow for these tasty garden gems.

Upright flowering plants

• Sweet peas, nasturtiums – These climbing stems thrive on wires or obelisks, like our Jack Vegie Cages
• Snapdragons, stock – With tall upright stems, these varieties may need light staking in windy conditions.

Top-heavy blooms

• Delphiniums, dahlias – Hoop supports (U-hoops) help stop wind-topple on top-heavy blooms like these, keeping plants standing tall as they grow.
• Hydrangeas (tall varieties) – These classics can become weighty with large flower heads, so staking or gentle support helps prevent drooping in the wind.

Want to give your plants something super versatile to lean on? Check out our Grip & Grow® Freestanding Kits. They’re made from durable galvanised steel, have ribbed bars for grip and extendable panels for extra height!

Explore the range: Vegie Trainers, Garden Stakes

See also: Pick the perfect plant trellis or trainer for your project
Selecting the right plant ties

Don’t have a big yard? You can still put our autumn gardening tips into action.

Jacks got your back with some simple ideas for small spaces, such as balconies and courtyards. All you need is the right gear and a bit of clever space-saving thinking.

• Containers – Pots are the perfect way to create mini planting patches, so stack them high with autumn herbs and blooms and bring your cosy outdoor space to life. They add colour to the palette and aroma to the air!
• Small, raised beds – Don’t let your square meterage cut short your edible growing dreams. Adding a small, raised bed or two in smaller spaces is a great way to surround yourself with green and grow fresh autumn goodies for your plate.
• Vertical gardens – When space is short, growing up (literally) makes fantastic use of space. It creates a beautiful autumn backdrop compared to bare brick or panel walls. For some style and function, go for our Jack Garden Up range.

Be inspired: Go potty! A simple guide to container gardening

Before you get stuck into your autumn planting, let’s take a quick look at a few common mistakes people make this time of year with new plants – so you don’t fall into the same traps.

• Planting seeds too late – As autumn has already kicked in, don’t wait. Sow after May and your roots might miss that warm-soil magic, leaving puny plants shivering into winter. Get your broccoli and beans in now!
• Reusing tired summer soil – Exhausted dirt equals sad crops. Summer zaps nutrients in your soil and packs in pests, so if you don’t refresh it with a compost top-up, your autumn greens might flop.
• Forgetting the support – Climbing crops such as peas and beans go rogue without stakes: winds snap them, and mud claims the fallen. Trellis early to enjoy some upright victories.
• Overzealous watering – As temperatures dip during the autumn season, the cool air slows evaporation, turning beds into swamps. Drowned roots rot fast, so check the soil before soaking.
• Wrong plants for conditions – Zone checks avoid wilts! Sydney (temperate) – kale, broccoli, peas thrive in 15-22°C days. Queensland (subtropical) – silverbeet, capsicum, beans handle warmer autumns.

To help ensure you haven’t forgotten anything, here’s a handy autumn planting checklist for Aussie gardens – save or share this guide for later!

• Choose your crops – Pick autumn-suitable and zone-suited plants. Think Sydney: kale, broccoli, peas; QLD: silverbeet, beans.
• Refresh the soil – Add compost or worm castings to tired summer dirt for a nutrient boost that turns it into healthy soil for fruitful growth.
• Set up beds – Use raised beds or container pots to ensure good drainage for April rains and to use in petite spaces.
• Add supports – Stake, trellis and cage climbers like peas and beans early to stop winds whipping and snapping stems – and help plantlings’ growth.
• Water in – Once you’ve planted your autumn crops, soak them gently to help them settle while avoiding nasty rot. Forget summer drenching!
• Mulch lightly – Layer bark or straw on top of your in-ground garden or raised beds to lock in moisture and keep the roots of your plant babies warm.
• Check growth weekly – Even though pests ease off after summer, it’s still worth keeping an eye out for them, along with waterlogging and any nutrient issues, as growth slows down.

The 6 dos (and 6 don’ts) of raised garden beds
Go potty! a simple guide to container gardening
Pick the perfect plant trellis or trainer for your project

Got some specific questions about growing a garden in autumn? Here are some handy FAQs to help you out.

Q: What vegetables grow best in autumn in Australia?
A: Cool-season veggies, such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, bok choy, carrots, peas, broad beans, lettuce, and spinach, thrive in autumn’s mild 15-22°C days and warm soil. Get ready to say hello to a bumper vegie harvest!

Q: What herbs can I plant in autumn?
A: Autumn is a great time to plant a range of hardy herbs here is Aus. Parsley, coriander, thyme, rosemary, sage, chives, oregano, and marjoram take root well from seeds or cuttings in temperate zones like Sydney.

Q: Can I plant flowers in autumn?
A: Yes. Autumn still has enough sun to plant spring-flowering bulbs, as well as cool-season blooms like pansies, violas, calendulas, snapdragons, sweet peas, and natives, including kangaroo paw. These look beautiful and flower reliably through winter when planted now.

Q: Are raised garden beds good for autumn planting?
A: Raised beds are actually ideal! The superior drainage of raised garden beds prevents rain rot, retained soil warmth boosts roots, and easy access suits broccoli or parsley in April showers.

Q: Do peas and beans in autumn vegetable gardens need support?
A: Yes! Plant support such as trellises, stakes and panels keeps climbing peas and beans upright against gusty winds, while broad beans may need staking along rows to support heavyweight pods.

Q: What’s the easiest beginner’s crop for autumn’s cooler weather?
A: Lettuce or radishes are a great pick. They’re fast from seed (usually 4–6 weeks), are happy in either pots or beds, and low-maintenance in mild autumn conditions, so you’ll be harvesting in no thyme!

Q: Can I grow an autumn garden in pots or containers?
A: Yes – and pots and containers are especially great on balconies and in small spaces! Use them for kale, herbs, or carrots – just make sure they have good drainage. Vertical pots and planters are perfect for climbers, such as peas. Check out our Garden Up range.

Q: How often should I water a garden in autumn?
A: 1-2 times weekly is enough in autumn as cooler weather temps slow H2O evaporation. Check soil moisture before watering by feeling it with your finger; if it’s still damp, skip the sprinkle to help prevent overwatering and root rot in rainy weather.

Ready to step outside into the autumn air and get planting? Simply plan your space, pick your products, then head to your local Jack supplier to grab them.

Done some autumn sowing? Outdoor spaces looking awesome? Why not share some snaps on socials, tagging @meetdiyjack? We’d love to see your hard work and might even give you a shout-out!