Now
20°C · Clear
Today
21° / 10°
Soil 6 cm
18°C
First frost
~76 days (Nov 23)
Gardening in Victoria
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyVictoria Gardening: Early Fall Planting & Harvest (Sept 8–14)
Zone 9a means your last spring frost was mid-March and first fall frost arrives around late November—you've got 76 days left. Soil at 18°C is still warm enough for cool-season crops to germinate and establish before winter dormancy. This is prime planting season for overwintering vegetables and spring bloomers.
Sow outdoors now
Garlic (German Extra Hardy, German Hardneck)
Plant individual cloves 5 cm (2 in) deep, 15 cm (6 in) apart, in full sun with well-draining soil. They'll root through fall and emerge in spring.
Broad beans (Aquadulce, Crimson Flowered)
Sow 5 cm (2 in) deep in rows 30 cm (12 in) apart. They tolerate frost and will flower by late spring for early summer harvest.
Spinach (Space, Bloomsdale)
Direct sow 1 cm (0.5 in) deep, thin to 10 cm (4 in) spacing. Germinates quickly in 18°C soil; harvest leaves before hard frost.
Mâche (Corn Salad)
Scatter seed thinly, barely cover. Extremely cold-hardy; grows slowly through winter and ready to pick by late winter.
Peas (Wando, Oregon Sugar Pod)
Sow 2 cm (0.75 in) deep, 5 cm (2 in) apart along a trellis. They'll climb through fall and produce before winter dormancy.
Start indoors now
Primrose (Primula acaulis, P. veris)
Sow on moist seed-starting mix, chill 4 weeks in a cold frame or fridge, then move to cool light. Blooms late winter into spring.
Hellebores (Helleborus niger, H. orientalis)
Scarify seed lightly, soak 24 hours, sow on moist mix, and stratify 4–6 weeks cold. Transplant to nursery bed in spring for flowers next winter.
Wallflowers (Erysimum cheiri)
Sow thinly on moist mix, keep at 15–18°C. Prick out in 4 weeks and harden off for planting out in October for spring blooms.
Harvest now
Apples (Gravenstein, Cox's Orange Pippin)
Peak harvest this week; pick when fruit colours fully and stems separate easily. Store in cool conditions (just above 0°C) for months.
Pears (Bartlett, Conference)
Pick when still firm and ripen indoors at room temperature for 3–5 days. Harvest before hard frost.
Blackberries (Himalayan, Oregon Thornless)
Pick fully black berries; they don't ripen further after harvest. Freeze or preserve immediately.
Kale & Chard (Lacinato, Bright Lights)
Outer leaves ready now; frost actually improves flavour by converting starches to sugars. Cut regularly to encourage new growth.
Tasks this week
- Plant spring bulbs (tulips, daffodils, crocuses) in well-draining soil 10–15 cm (4–6 in) deep by late September.
- Divide and transplant perennials (hostas, daylilies, sedums) while soil is still warm and rain is coming.
- Clean up spent annuals and deadhead perennials to redirect energy to roots before dormancy.
- Mulch beds with 5 cm (2 in) of compost or aged bark to insulate roots and suppress weeds through winter.
- Prune summer-flowering shrubs (hydrangeas, roses) lightly; save hard pruning for late winter.
Watch out for
- Slugs and snails thrive in cool, moist conditions—hand-pick at dusk or use copper tape barriers around tender seedlings.
- Powdery mildew appears on asters and dahlias in humid fall weather; ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering.
- Wet soil in October can rot garlic and broad bean seeds; amend heavy clay with sand and compost for drainage.
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