The Best Plants to Grow in Spring

Spring is a fantastic time for gardens. From prolific fresh veggies to bright floral displays, it’s a season of new beginnings and exciting developments. However, many of these plants would have been planted before the beginning of spring. Gardening can take a bit of forethought, so you may need to plant a season or two in advance for the garden you wish to have.

When it comes to working out what to plant in spring, you’ll likely also want to check with what grows well in your climatic zone. Different zones across Australia suit different plants, and taking this into account when planning your garden can mean less heartache and dead plants!

Today, we take a look at what to grow in spring across a range of different regions of Australia. Wondering what plants you can plant in spring? Read on to find out!

Cool zones

Cool zones are those that experience chilly days and frosts. The following plants can be grown during spring here:

Basil

Are you a fiend for a good margarita pizza or pesto pasta? Growing your own basil plant means you can have access to plenty of basil during the spring to create all kinds of different yummy meals.

Strawberries

Strawberries are a great fruit for growing in the spring. They grow well in pots, and can be a lot of fun for getting the kids into gardening.

Other plants to grow in cool zones during spring:

• Coriander
• Foxglove
• Capsicum 
• Zucchini

Temperate zones

Temperate zones are those that experience cool days, but infrequent frosts. Plants that grow well in the spring here include:

Blueberries

The blueberry bush can be planted in temperate zones during the spring, but just keep in mind it can take a while for it to reach maturity and begin bearing fruit!

Sunflowers

Sunflowers can be grown in temperate, subtropical, and tropical zones. These beautiful bright flowers are easy to grow and make a wonderful springtime addition to a garden.

Other plants to grow in temperate zones during spring:

• Sage
• Begonia
• Rosemary
• Cosmos

Subtropical zones

In subtropical zones, these are some of the flowers, herbs and vegetables to grow in spring:

Mint

This herb can be grown in both tropical and subtropical regions during the spring months. Perfect for adding to a fruity punch or for making mint sauce with! Mint is also pretty hard to kill, making it a fantastic plant for those new to gardening.

Kangaroo Paw

An Australian native, the Kangaroo Paw makes for a great addition to subtropical zone gardens in the spring. This interesting flower comes in a range of colours, including red, orange, yellow, and purple.

Other plants to grow in subtropical zones during spring:

• Beetroot
• Snapdragon
• Pumpkin
• Impatiens

Tropical zones

If you live in a tropical zone, you’ll likely be pretty familiar with humid summers and warm winters. For these areas, the following plants can be grown during the spring:

Passionfruit

A fresh, tasty passionfruit can give off tropical vibes, so it’s no surprise that these vine fruits grow well in tropical climates. These vines can also be grown in temperate zones.

Eggplant

Fry it in a pan or add it to a stew – eggplant is a versatile vegetable that can be grown in tropical zones during the spring months.

Other plants to grow in tropical zones during spring:

• Sweet potato
• Watermelon
• Nasturtium
• Chrysanthemum

All zones

A few plants can be grown in all zones of Australia during spring. When it comes to flowers to plant in spring in Australia, regardless of the zone, the following can be grown pretty much everywhere:

• Petunia
• Salvia
• Marigold

The following herbs and veggies can be grown in most zones:

• Chives
• Corn
• Onions