If you enjoy gardening it can be tempting to use your holiday time to go on a planting blitz. Selecting what to plant in January in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales should focus on survival and resilience rather than perfection. New plants require time to settle in so you will need to choose ones that can cope with wet feet, hot days and high humidity. For successful planting at this time of the year we recommend you plant early or late in the day, water deeply, mulch well and use temporary shade cloth for plants that need it.
Here are some plants that love the heat, establish quickly and recover well after rain and storms.
Tropical and subtropical plants
Choose these for fast growth and high humidity tolerance.
- Hibiscus
- Gardenia
- Heliconia
- Cordyline
- Croton
- Tibouchina
- Philodendron & Monstera (shaded positions)
Native plants (especially local species)
These natives have adapted to Australian summers and rainfall patterns.
- Lomandra
- Dianella
- Callistemon
- Grevillea (summer-tolerant varieties)
- Westringia
- Melaleuca
Hardy perennials and groundcovers
These plants are tough and low maintenance and will help to stabilise your soil in heavy rain.
- Vinca
- Liriope
- Blue daze (Evolvulus)
- Verbena
- Native violets
- Pigface
What to plant in the veggie garden in January
Provided your patch is protected and well-watered these foods will grow well.
- Sweet potato
- Okra
- Eggplant
- Chilli
- Basil
- Pumpkin
- Zucchini
Avoid disappointing failures by selecting the right plants. This is not the time of the year to plant delicate seedlings, small tube stock or cool weather varieties. By focusing on plants that thrive in the heat, humidity and heavy rain, your hard work in the garden won’t be in vain. Our consultants have decades of horticultural know-how. They can guide you on the best plants to choose at this time of the year. Visit us today!
