When to plant Burnet in Subtropical Australia

Subtropical zone — applies to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Tropical · Arid.

Sow salad burnet direct from February to October, dropping seed 8 mm deep into a sunny, well-drained spot as the summer humidity fades. Germination is slow and uneven at 14–28 days, so keep the bed evenly moist while you wait, and plants are usable in 60–90 days. Thin seedlings to about 30 cm apart, with rows 30 cm apart, to form neat rosettes of ferny, cucumber-scented leaves. This hardy perennial herb suits the long, mild subtropical cool season well, so gardeners around Brisbane and Coffs Harbour get fresh salad leaves through autumn, winter and spring.

Sowing calendar — subtropical zone

Green months are your sowing window: February to October.

Growing notes

Salad burnet is a tough, low-growing perennial herb whose young leaves add a crisp cucumber note to salads and cold drinks. It performs best across the cooler, drier subtropical months, when growth is compact and the flavour is at its freshest.

The main pitfall here is bitter, tough foliage once the weather turns hot and the plant runs to flower. The fix is to harvest young leaves from the centre of the rosette regularly and to pinch off flower stems as they appear, which keeps a supply of tender growth coming. In the peak of summer, plants may look ragged; cut them back and they usually flush again as conditions cool.

Give burnet full sun to light shade and free-draining soil, since it dislikes wet feet through the humid season. It needs little feeding and tolerates dry spells once established, making it an easy edging or container herb. Because it is perennial, one autumn sowing around Lismore or the Sunshine Coast can supply leaves for a couple of years before plants need replacing.

Burnet at a glance

Common questions

when to sow salad burnet in the subtropics

Sow direct from February to October, as the summer humidity eases. The mild subtropical cool season suits burnet well, giving tender leaves through autumn, winter and spring.

why does my burnet taste bitter

Burnet turns bitter and tough in hot weather and once it flowers. Pick young leaves from the centre of the rosette often, remove flower stems as they form, and cut plants back in summer to encourage fresh growth.

is salad burnet a perennial

Yes, burnet is a hardy perennial. A single autumn sowing can supply leaves for a couple of years before the plants become woody and need replacing.

how do I use salad burnet

Pick the young, ferny leaves and add them to salads, cold soups or drinks for a mild cucumber flavour. Older leaves are tougher, so harvest from the tender centre of the plant.

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