New Year, Fresh Blooms: Summer Gardening in Full Swing

January 09, 2025

G'day Aussie gardeners!

Welcome to the January edition of the Aussie Green Thumb Newsletter, our first of 2025! We wish you all the very best for the year ahead!

January marks the height of summer, and while the heat is on, so is the opportunity to make your garden shine. From sowing summer favourites to planning for the year ahead, there’s plenty to keep Aussie gardeners inspired.

Let’s dive into how you can make the most of your garden this month!

Monthly Wrap-Up:

  • The featured edible this month is rockmelons

  • Our featured bush tucker plant is Muntries (Kunzea pomifera)

  • Nathan’s summer veggie harvests

  • Our latest YouTube videos to get you inspired

  • Latest blog posts from our website

  • The native plant spotlight this month is Old Man Banksia

  • Garden tasks for a productive summer

  • Our summer garden tool guides 

Let us know what gardening projects you’ll be busy with in January and what you’re going to be planting, we’d love to find out! If you want any information covered by our team, let us know. We love helping and hearing from our AGT community!

  1. A reminder that we launched our new and exciting AGT forum! Come and sign up, say hello, and share your gardening experiences and questions with the community. Let’s make 2025 one to remember!
    Join the Aussie Green Thumb Community Forum

  2. Our wide-brim gardening hat and outdoor gardening sun cap are still in stock but are selling like hotcakes! Show your support and get your hands on them while stocks last.

Nathan’s Gardening Update 🥑

Nathan’s summer harvest has been a true bounty! The final haul includes 1.3kg of broad beans, a whopping 8kg of snow peas (taking the total for the year to well over 10kg!), and 680g of silverbeet. It’s a testament to what careful planning and summer nurturing can achieve. Check out the pics below for inspiration!

Nathan’s Final Broad Beans Harvest

Juicy Snow Peas Ready for Dinner

Nathan’s Final Silverbeets Harvest

Growing Rockmelons (Cantaloupes) in Australia

Rockmelons love the summer heat and produce sweet, juicy fruit perfect for summer snacks or salads.

Plant in a sunny spot with well-drained soil and provide plenty of room for the vines to spread.

Muntries (Kunzea pomifera) Australian Native Guide

This low-growing shrub is native to southern Australia and produces sweet, tangy berries that are rich in antioxidants. The berries can be used in jams, desserts, or even added fresh to salads for a unique flavour.

Muntries prefer sandy, well-drained soils and full sun to part shade, making them ideal for summer planting.

This Month on YouTube 📺

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Latest Blog Posts 🌱

Here’s the latest from Aussie Green Thumb this month.

NSW Nurseries Every Gardener Should Visit

NSW nurseries are a treasure trove for gardeners, offering an impressive range of plants, expert advice, and landscaping solutions tailored to the region's diverse climates.

Whether you're creating a lush garden retreat, looking for hardy plants to withstand frosty winters, or seeking a rare and unique tree for your collection, NSW nurseries have you covered.

The Best Sydney Nurseries Every Gardener Should Know

Sydney is a paradise for plant lovers! From family-owned Sydney nurseries with century-old expertise to modern indoor plant studios, the city offers a lush array of options for gardeners of every skill level.

January’s warm days and long sunlight hours create ideal conditions for planting a fresh wave of summer veggies. Whether you're starting seeds or transplanting seedlings, now’s the perfect time to grow crops that thrive in the heat and will keep your garden productive well into the season. Here are three of the best veggies to plant this month:

Lettuce: Fast-growing and heat-tolerant varieties can thrive in summer with a bit of shade. Perfect for summer salads. Harvest leaves as needed to encourage continuous growth.

Zucchini: A prolific summer crop that’s versatile in the kitchen, zucchinis grow quickly and produce plenty of fruit. Pick regularly to prevent overgrown, tough zucchinis.

Basil: While technically a herb, basil is an essential summer companion plant for tomatoes and chillies. Its fragrant leaves are perfect for pest control and pesto-making. Pinch off flowers to keep plants productive. How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Basil

Summer is in full swing, and January is all about keeping your garden thriving through the heat. With a little care and attention, you can ensure your plants stay healthy and productive while preparing your garden for the year ahead. Here are the top tasks to tackle in the garden this month:

  1. Water Wisely: Water deeply early in the morning to reduce evaporation and encourage strong root systems.
    Watering your garden; Tap, rain, bore or grey?

  2. Mulch Like a Pro: Add a thick layer of mulch around plants to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
    Best Types of Mulch for the Garden | When and How to Use it

  3. Check for Pests: Summer is prime time for aphids, caterpillars, and whiteflies. Use organic sprays or natural predators to keep them at bay.
    How to Identify and Get Rid of Aphids

  4. Prune Summer Bloomers: Trim back spent flowers to encourage continued blooming and tidy the garden.

  5. Feed Your Plants: Use a liquid fertiliser to give veggies and flowering plants a nutrient boost during their peak growing season.
    Complete Australian Garden Fertiliser 2025 Users Guide

  6. Plan for the Year: Start sketching out your 2025 garden layout, rotating crops to maintain healthy soil and maximise yields.

Best Garden Tool Belts for 2025, Tested and Reviewed

I’m a big fan of anything that makes gardening more enjoyable and my OCD tendencies love any tool that simplifies and makes organisation a reality.

So, it’s no surprise that a tool belt would suit my lifestyle completely.

Best Gumboots in Australia (2025 Reviews)

Gumboots, while traditionally referring to the natural rubber gum materials they are made from, cover all sorts of Wellington and PVC rubber boots these days.

Whether you’re in the market for a traditional pair of true-rubber gumboots or just want something to keep your feet warm and dry, we’ve got you covered.

Best Bow Saws in Australia for 2025

If you’re not a fan of power tools, there’s only one way to prune a tree safely and comfortably; bow saws.

Whatever design you feel most comfortable with, and whatever blade length you can support, there is a bow saw out there for you, and with proper use, it can be a much neater, cleaner way to prune large trees.

Banksia serrata (Old Man Banksia) is an iconic Australian native that is flowering now in coastal regions of New South Wales and Queensland. Known for its large, striking flower spikes, it attracts birds and bees while adding drama to gardens or bush landscapes.

It’s hardy, drought-tolerant, and a beautiful addition to native gardens. The flowers can even be used to extract a sweet nectar treat!

There you have it, Green Thumbs! Your January 2025 Gardening Update!

Don't forget to check out our detailed guides and tutorials on our website for more in-depth information. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest gardening videos, tips, and DIY projects.

Again, be sure to let us know what gardening projects you’ll be busy with in January and what you’re going to be planting, we’d love to find out! If you want any information covered by our team, let us know! We wish you a fantastic start to the year and your landscaping projects!

Happy gardening 🌱

Cheers,

Nathan Schwartz 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our friendly team today!

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