The Noongar season of Bunuru, also known as "Second Summer", falls in February - March and is the hottest time of the year with little to no rain. Hot easterly winds continue with a cooling sea breeze most afternoons if you're lucky enough to be close to the coast.

Perth Planting Guide for February and March

February is the last month to sow many of the warm weather crops and also time to get ready for autumn plantings. 

Plant out the last of your summer vegetables, such as tomatoes and lettuce. Fast growing summer herbs such as basil will also thrive now.

February may be a little early yet but as March rolls around, it’s time to start thinking about potatoes, garlic and brassica seeds - this includes veggies like cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage.

Stock up on heirloom seeds and plan your autumn patch. You can start a few seeds in cooler indoor conditions until the soil temperatures drop.

Seasonal Seed packs to help you prepare for autumn planting.

Tips for Germinating Seeds in Hot Weather

• Soak soil before planting to ensure seeds are planted into a moist environment.

• Keep soil moist (but not wet) by misting regularly with water. Keep a close eye on your seedlings, and don’t let them dry out.

• Different seeds have different ideal soil temperatures for germinating. Select seed varieties that prefer or can cope with higher temperatures. Getting yourself a soil thermometer can help.

• Keep your soil temperatures cooler by installing temporary shade cloths. Wetting burlap and placing over the garden bed may also help. 

• Try starting your seeds indoors in seeding flats or small pots where it’s cooler, before planting out later in the season.

• Some seeds such as lettuce may do better if planted at night in the cooler temperatures.

• Some seeds require soaking before planting, and this can help them have more access to water during the germination period.

For more tips on growing from seed check out our article for ourtop tips for growing veggies from seed.

Watering Effectively Over Bunuru

Being so hot and dry in Perth over Bunuru, it’s important to keep a particular eye on your watering, making sure your plants are drinking enough.

To keep your watering effective, try these tips:

• Water plants deeply in the early morning to avoid the water evaporating too quickly.

• Soak young trees and shrubs every couple of weeks to encourage deep root growth.

• Check reticulation is working well, clear any blocked sprinklers and ensure they are directed where they are needed most.

• Hand water with a hose or watering can when required.

• Bury an olla pot in your garden to supply regular water to the root zone. 

• Keep mulch topped up, and ensure your soil is covered to improve water absorption and regulate soil temperatures.

Also read our guide to helping your plants through a heat wave.

Seaweed Tonics are great at helping your plants cope with heat stress and making them more resilient to pests and diseases.

Dealing with Heat Stress in Your Plants

With hot days still to come, keep these tips in mind for managing heat stress in your plants:

• Apply some seaweed tonic to reduce stress on plants as stressed plants are more susceptible to attack from pests.

• When mowing your lawns, keep the blades a little higher than usual to protect grass from heat stress.

• Put up temporary shade structures using hessian or an insect exclusion net.

• Move pots and containers to a shadier spot if plants aren’t coping.

• Spray Kaolin Clay on your crops as a natural sunscreen.

Show Your Citrus Some Love

Apply citrus food and top up mulch around citrus trees to protect roots from heat stress. Citrus trees like orange, lemon and lime will appreciate a feed and some extra mulch in February.

Watch out for Scale, Mealy Bug and Fruit Fly

Scale, mealy bug and fruit fly can become a problem during Bunuru. Look for natural pest management techniques to deal with them, rather than chemicals which can upset the balance in your garden. Install fruit protection nets to protect any vulnerable trees and plants.

Also be alert for powdery mildew, especially on large leafy plants such as cucumbers and pumpkin. A simple spray solution of milk: water at a ratio of 1:10 can help to keep mildew at bay.

Fruit Protection Nets and Bags can help keep your fruit safe before it's ready to harvest.

Growing a Green Manure Crop to Replenish Your Soil

Bunuru is a good time to think about putting in a green manure crop in preparation for your autumn/winter crops. A green manure crop can help to replenish the soil after heavy feeding summer crops have depleted the nutrients. 

Agreen manure crop can help replenish soil after your summer crops are finished.

What Will You Grow this Season?

Being so hot and dry, Bunuru comes with its gardening challenges. But some herbs and veggies will soak up the late summer weather and thrive. Feeling discouraged? Take some time to plan and think ahead to what crops you’ll plant as the weather cools.

May your garden be happy this Bunuru!