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Aubretia
Growing aubretia as a hardy groundcover in Australian gardens: sowing, position, trimming after flowering, companion plants and common pests.
| Position | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Depth | Surface sow |
| Spacing | 25 to 30 cm |
| First pick | Flowers in year two |
Basil
Sowing basil once the nights are mild, spacing and watering, pinching for bushy plants, and picking so the crop keeps coming until the first cold snap.
| Position | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Depth | 6 mm |
| Spacing | 25 cm |
| First pick | 60 to 70 days |
Coriander
Why coriander runs to seed, when to sow it in your climate, and how to harvest the leaves, roots and seed so one packet gives three crops.
| Position | Morning sun, shade in heat |
|---|---|
| Depth | 5 to 10 mm |
| Spacing | 15 cm |
| First pick | 45 to 60 days |
Garlic
When to plant garlic in each Australian climate zone, how deep and how far apart, feeding through winter, and how to tell when the bulbs are ready to lift and cure.
| Position | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Depth | 50 mm |
| Spacing | 15 cm |
| First pick | About 8 months |
Elephant garlic
Also sold as Russian garlic. Plant the large cloves in April or May, keep the bed weeded and watered, and use the finger test to judge when the bulbs are ready.
| Position | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Depth | 40 to 50 mm over the clove |
| Spacing | 20 to 30 cm |
| First pick | 8 to 9 months |
Saffron
How to plant saffron corms, when the flowers appear in autumn, how to pick and dry the threads, and how to keep the corms productive year after year.
| Position | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Depth | 100 to 150 mm |
| Spacing | 15 cm |
| First pick | Flowers in autumn |
Sunflower
Sowing sunflowers from giant to dwarf types, soil and spacing, protecting young plants from wind and birds, and harvesting the seed heads.
| Position | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Depth | 20 to 30 mm |
| Spacing | 30 to 50 cm |
| First pick | 70 to 100 days |