Humidity

If you live on the coast in South East Queensland chances are you’re in a subtropical climate. Sure there are pockets that might be a little more temperate, but for the most part - it’s humid. Even when you think it feels dry here go to Perth or Adelaide and you’ll probably reconsider!

Personally I love the humidity, it’s like a great big warm sticky hug. A lot of insects and diseases also love it (think mealy bugs, scale, powdering mildew, blight). They hide and breed up in warm and damp nooks and crannies. If you want to grow plants that are more naturally suited to temperate climates, e.g. roses, or if you want a thriving veggie patch full of tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, melons, and peas you’ll do better if you take a few easy tips:

Ventilation: A cottage style garden with plants that ramble and overflow on top of each other might be appealing but when it’s hot and sticky, give your plants room to breathe. Space plants adequately and prune them so they are open and the breeze can get through.

Water in the morning: If you water in the afternoon and evening, that water sits on the leaves all night and increases the local humidity. Water in the morning and the foliage has all day to dry out.

Avoid wetting the leaves: A good hose down occasionally will wash the dust off the leaves, but if you live in the subtropics, you probably have enough rain showers for that. Water at the base of the plants and avoid wetting the foliage to decrease the local humidity.

Be selective: There are lots of plant cultivars that have been bred to cope with particular conditions - including high humidity. These plants have been selected to be resistant to diseases that normally thrive. Local breeders breed blackspot resistant roses, and certain veggie cultivars are much more resilient than others. Alternatively grow a substitute - snake beans are very much suited to our climate and have huge yields, and cherry tomatoes are generally happier in our hot and humid summers.