On this page we will have links to other pages which will help you grow your knowledge of gardening. We hope to have information on what to grow in which seasons, native plants to grow in our region, how to make your own wicking beds, compost bins, worm farms and more. Our bimonthly newsletters set on the Noongar seasons will have links to any new postings to keep you informed.
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- Noongar Seasons – 6 seasons of the Noongar calendar
- Grow in Seasons – what to grow throughout the seasons
- Seasonal Jobs – what should you be doing throughout the changing seasons
- Grow Natives – Perth coastal region
- Grow & Learn – a useful link with gardening topics (soon to come)
Noongar Seasons
Here at the Coastal Community Garden we have chosen to bring you our Watermelon & Waves newsletters at the start of every Noongar Season. The Noongar calendar has six seasons including two summers and two springs.
The season of Birak is the first of two summers extends from December through to January. As the warmer weather ramps up and rains diminish we learn to expect the daily pattern of scorching easterlies turning to the southwest bringing in the much welcomed afternoon sea breeze; the ‘Fremantle Doctor’. As reptiles are shedding their old skin making room for new growth, the waterways begin to dry up and tadpoles complete their metamorphosis to frogs while fledglings leave their nests as they learn to fend for themselves.
Bunuru Season is the second Noongar summer when we enter into the hottest part of the year. This season covers from February to March. Bunuru is known for hot easterly winds, cool afternoon sea breezes and very little rain. It is also a time for white flowers, which are in abundance on the Jarrah, Marri and Ghost Gums.
Djeran Season, is equivalent to autumn covering from April to May. Djeran season brings a break in our really hot weather as days shorten, morning and nights are becoming cooler with an occasional greeting of dew drenched mornings. The winds, losing their intensity, have swung around to the southwest, bringing welcomed relied to the scorching heat of the summer and cooler night temperatures. We may even see the first of the rains, an indication of what’s to come. Djeran is known as the season of red flowers. Keep your eyes open for the Corimbia ficifolia or Red Flowering Gum and the Beaufortia aestiva or Summer Flame with its more delicate red flowers. Sheoaks (Allocasuarina fraseriana), as their cones begin to develop, display them in rust red. Banksias are also in flower providing nectar for birds, native bees and small mammals. You may also have noticed the ants are out in abundance, Djeran is also known as the ant season.
The Season of Makuru, our winter from June to July. We now entering into the coldest and wettest part of the year from June to July. Makuru is known by the Noongar people as the season of fertility as birds, reptiles and animals pair up in preparation for breeding. It is also the season for the blue and purple flowers to emerge, such as the purple flag (Patersonia occidentalis) which will be featured in this issue’s Native Plant.
Djilba, the beginning of the Noongar first spring from August – September. It is a transitional time of the year, with some very cold, clear days interspersed with windy rainy days and an occasional warm sunny day. As the days become warmer, spring flowers come into bloom. Djilba is the season of the yellow and cream flowers which burst out in a massive display from Acacias. You may also see an abundance of new life in the bird and animal kingdom including protective Magpies so be careful as you enter their territory.
Kambarang is the second spring of the Noongar calendar which is from October through to November. Change is in the air as we approach summer with longer, warmer days and extended dry periods. As the weather warms up our reptilian locals awaken from their hibernation, keep your eyes open for the bobtails and snakes especially as you wander through our bushlands. Birds are busy feeding their young so continue to be mindful while in Maggie territory. With an abundant display of colour from flora exploding into bloom this is a great opportunity to enjoy the Perth bush. Keep your eyes open for native orchids, kangaroo paws, banksias and acacias displaying their God-given splendour. As we approach Christmas look out for the bright orange/yellow flowers, our Native Australian Christmas Tree (Nuytsia) signalling the heat to come.
The season of Birak is the first of two summers extends from December through to January. As the warmer weather ramps up and rains diminish we learn to expect the daily pattern of scorching easterlies turning to the southwest bringing in the much welcomed afternoon sea breeze; the ‘Fremantle Doctor’. As reptiles are shedding their old skin making room for new growth, the waterways begin to dry up and tadpoles complete their metamorphosis to frogs while fledglings leave their nests as they learn to fend for themselves.
Grow in Season
What to plant during the seasons:
BIRAK SEASON – DECEMBER – JANUARY
Flowers: Ageratum, alyssum, aster, begonia, boronia, calendula, cyclamen, dahlia, forget-me-not, gerbera, impatiens, linaria, marigold, nasturtium, pansy, petunia, portulaca, salvia, stock, sunflower, sweet pea, verbena, vinca, viola, wallflower and zinnia.
Vegetables: Plants to consider growing now include: basil, beans (snake beans highly recommended for summer), beetroot, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, capsicum, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chilli, chokos, cucumber, eggplant, endive, ginger, herbs, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, malabar spinach, melons, okra, parsnips, pumpkin, radish, rockmelon, rosella, rhubarb crowns, silverbeet, spring onions, squash, strawberries, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomatoes, turnip, watermelon, zucchini.
BUNURA SEASON – FEBRUARY – MARCH
Flowers: Ageratum, alyssum, boronia, calendula, cornflower, cyclamen, forget-me-not, hollyhock, linaria, nasturtium, pansy, salvia, statice, stock, sweet pea, verbena, vinca, viola, wallflower.
Vegetables: Beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbages, capsicum, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, chilli, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, herbs, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, melons, spring onions, parsnips, peas, radishes, rhubarb crowns, Silverbeet, sweet corn, tomatoes, zucchinis. It’s a challenge growing vegetables in the hottest time of the year here in Perth but with a daily hand water and possibly shade cloth you’ll still be able to have a productive garden. To prevent stressed plants from bolting to seed, keep up the water and ensure seeds & seedlings don’t dry out.
W.A Fruits and Vegies in Season: Apples, apricots, avocadoes, bananas, cherries, grapes, mangoes, rockmelon, watermelon, nectarines, passionfruit, pawpaw, peaches, plums, Beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrots, celery, chillies, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, radish, rhubarb, silverbeet, spring onions, squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, turnips zucchini.
DJERAN SEASON – APRIL – MAY
Flowers: alyssum, cineraria, cornflower, snapdragon, stock, statice, pansy, poppy, primula, sweet pea and viola.
Vegetables: Jerusalem globe, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Garlic, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Onions, Parsnips, Peas – Snow and Sugar, Radish, Shallots, Spring onions, Silverbeet, Spinach and Turnips.
W.A Fruits and Vegies in Season: Apples including – Fuji, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Bananas, Figs, Grapes, Guavas, Kiwi Fruit, Kumquats, Mandarins, Nashi Pears, Olives, Passionfruit, Pawpaw, Pears, Quinces, Rockmelon, Watermelon. Beans – climbing, dwarf, Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Celery, Chillies, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Lettuce, Onion, Parsnips, Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radish, Rhubarb, Silver Beets, Spring onions, Squash, Swedes, Sweet Corn, Sweet potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips and Zucchini.
MUKURU SEASON – JUNE – JULY
Flowers: Ageratum, alyssum, ameranthus, Aurora daisy, aster, begonia, boronia, calendula, California poppy, carnation, celosia, chrysanthemum, cockscomb, coleus, coreopsis, cosmos, dahlia (seed), delphinium, dianthus, everlasting daisy, gaillardia, gazania, geranium (seed), gerbera, mignonette, nasturtium, ornamental chilli, petunia, phlox, portulaca, rudbeckia, salvia, snapdragon, spider flower, statice, strawflower, sunflower, Swan River daisy, verbena, viscaria, waratah, zinnia.
Vegetables: Artichoke, asparagus, beans, beetroots, broccoli, cabbages, capsicums, carrots, Chinese cabbages, cress, cucumbers, endive, herbs, lettuces, melons, mustard, spring onions, onions, parsnips, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb crowns, shallots, silverbeet, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini.
DJIBA SEASON – AUGUST – SEPTEMBER
Flowers: Ageratum, alyssum, aster, Californian poppy, carnation, catmint, calendula, celosia, coleus, convolvulus, cornflower, cosmos, dahlia, daisies, dianthus, echinacea, everlastings, feverfew, gazania, gerbera, holyhocks, impatiens, lavender, marigold, nasturtium, osteospermum, petunia, phlox, portulaca, primula, salvia, snapdragon, strawberry, sunflower, zinnia, calibrachoa, many are also good in hanging pots.
Vegetables: Artichoke, basil, beetroot, cabbage, capsicums, carrot, chili, chives, coriander, cucumber, dill, broccoli, eggplant, endive, lettuce, leeks, melons, oregano, parsley, parsnip, pumpkin, radish, rocket, rhubarb, silverbeet, spring onions, summer beans, sweet corn, thyme, tomatoes and zucchini.
KAMBARANG SEASON – OCTOBER – NOVEMBER
Flowers: Ageratum, alstroemeria, alyssum, argyranthemum (federation daisies), azaleas, boronia, calendula, cyclamen, forget-me-not, kangaroo paws, linaria, livingstone daisy, nasturtium, pansy, petunia, roses, salvia, stock, verbena, vinca, viola, wallflower portulaca, marigold.
Vegetables: Beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbages, capsicum, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, chilli, coriander, cucumbers, eggplant, fennel, endive, herbs, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, melons, mint, okra, spring onions, sweet potato, parsnips, pumpkin, radishes, rhubarb crowns, sage, silverbeet, sweet corn, tomatoes, zucchinis.