Tomatoes, eggplants, chillies: What to plant in your garden right now

While mail-order vegetable seeds saw Melburnians through lockdown, now that nurseries have reopened, edible seedlings – which can be a faster and more convenient option – are easily acquired too. Tomatoes, eggplants, chillies, zucchinis and cucumbers are just some of the seedlings that can be planted now.

Check roses for any signs of black spot, a fungal disease that is often exacerbated by the sort of wet weather many of us have experienced this spring. Remove and dispose of affected foliage. Although it’s best to avoid overhead watering to discourage outbreaks, applying foliar feeds of liquid seaweed can help limit the disease.

Sow seeds of cosmos, zinnias and sunflowers.

Plant ornamental grasses, which will add height, movement, colour and texture to your garden all the way into winter.

Remove spent flowers and straggly stems of Euphorbia characias subsp wulfennii, both to maintain a dense shape and to stop them self-seeding. Be careful to wear gloves and eye protection, as the milky sap can be highly irritating to the skin and eyes.