Getting started
Sowing and space
Direct-sow thinly, keep the surface moist until emergence and thin without damaging neighbours.
The cycle is an editorial band linked to the method above. Cultivar, temperature, transplant age and the harvest stage can change it.
Allow about 30 cm of usable depth and roughly 7 cm between plants. A suitably sized container can work when the full root volume and mature canopy are allowed.
Water demand is moderate and regular. That is not a fixed timetable: heat, wind, rain, container size and growth stage change the interval.
Planting windows by broad profile
The highlighted months are conservative editorial references, not a current forecast or postcode calendar. Confirm the cultivar, packet, current warning and local advice.
Tropical wet–dry
Heavy rain can wash out small seed; use the milder dry period.
Humid subtropical
Hot and arid
The shallow seed layer may need frequent light attention until seedlings establish.
Warm temperate
Cool temperate
Practical care
- Remove stones and hard clods before sowing.
- Choose a shorter variety for a shallower container.
Points to check
- Transplanting usually produces forked roots.
- A dry surface during germination can cause patchy emergence.
Provenance and confidence
This rule is editorial guidance without claimed independent agronomic review. Confidence describes evidence coverage, not the chance of a harvest.
Australian home food garden editorial synthesis — version 1
Original synthesis for broad Australian profiles. It remains editorial draft until independent agronomic review is recorded.