What to Sow in July: Planning Your Spring Transplants
By The Yield Australia Team ·
July might feel like the quietest month in the paddock, but in the nursery it's anything but. Seedlings destined for late-August and September transplanting are being sown right now — which makes mid-winter the most important planning window of the spring program.
What Goes in the Ground From Late August
- Brassicas — broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage sown in July are the backbone of the early-spring transplant program. Cold-tolerant hybrids handle the transition weather best.
- Lettuce and leafy lines — early-spring iceberg, cos and fancy lettuce programs start from July sowings, with protected propagation smoothing out the cold snaps.
- Alliums — spring leek and onion programs are well underway; if yours isn't confirmed yet, do it now.
- Early celery and silverbeet — for growers targeting the first spring harvest windows.
Count Backwards From Your Field Date
Winter growth is slow. A seedling that takes five weeks bench-to-dispatch in October can take seven or more in July–August. When you're planning, start from the date you want trays on the truck and count backwards using winter cycle times — not the summer numbers you know by heart. Our team can do this calculation with you for any line in the catalogue.
Watch Your Soil, Not Just Your Calendar
The BOM outlook continues to lean wetter than median for southern Victoria, which means workability — not seedling availability — is likely to be the binding constraint on early-spring transplanting. The Soil Workability Forecast on our Weather Dashboard is built for exactly this: use it to pick your transplant windows and we'll match dispatch to suit.
Confirm Early, Transplant On Time
Spring is our busiest sowing period and bench space fills fast. Orders confirmed in July get first call on varieties and dispatch slots. Call 1300 094 353 or talk to your representative to lock in your spring program this month.