What to sow during autumn

Growing Information

As the summer sun begins to fade away and the temperatures start to cool, it’s time to turn our attention to the autumn garden. In South Africa, the transition from summer to autumn brings with it a host of opportunities for sowing a variety of crops and flowers that thrive in the milder conditions of the season.

In this article, we’ll explore what to sow during the autumn season in South Africa, ensuring a generous harvest and vibrant garden throughout the cooler months.

Veggies to sow

Leafy greens

Autumn is the perfect time to sow a variety of leafy greens that prefer the cooler temperatures and milder conditions of the season. Consider planting crops such as spinach, lettuce, kale and swiss chard. These nutrient-packed greens will flourish in the autumn garden, providing a continuous harvest of fresh, healthy leaves for salads, stir-fries and soups.

Root vegetables

Many root vegetables thrive when sown during the autumn months in South Africa. Carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, leeks, and onions are excellent choices for autumn planting. These crops will appreciate the cooler temperatures and sufficient moisture of the season, producing flavourful and nutritious roots that can be harvested throughout the autumn and winter months.

Brassicas

Autumn is the ideal time to sow brassica vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. These cold-hardy crops will benefit from the cooler temperatures of autumn, resulting in sweeter and more tender harvests.

Broad Beans

Autumn is the only time to sow broad beans in South Africa.

These legumes prefer the cooler temperatures of autumn and will produce abundant harvests of tender pods when sown during this time.

Herbs to Sow

Autumn can be a little too chilly to start most herb seeds outdoors but that doesn’t mean you have to skip growing herbs altogether! The great thing about herbs is that many of them can be successfully sown indoors on a sunny windowsill, where they’ll stay warm and sheltered from the cold. Indoor sowing gives you a head start, and once the weather warms up again, you can transplant your herbs into the garden or keep harvesting from your indoor pots.

But if you’re hoping to sow herbs directly in the garden during autumn, there’s ONE exception in the MayFord range… Lavender!

Lavender is the only herb in our range that should be sown in autumn. In fact, autumn is the best—and only time to sow lavender from seed. The cooler temperatures and natural rhythms of the season help lavender germinate and establish strong roots, setting the stage for beautiful blooms and fragrant foliage in the seasons to come.

Flowers to sow

While the changing seasons bring cooler temperatures and shorter days, autumn also brings the arrival of a new wave of flowers that add colour and charm to the South African garden.

Autumn Leafy Greens
Autumn Root Vegetables
Autumn Brassicas
Autumn Broad Beans
Autumn Flowers

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