When to plant Burnet in Tropical Australia
Tropical zone — applies to Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Broome, Mackay and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Subtropical · Arid.
Sow salad burnet direct from March to September, barely covering the seed at 8 mm as the wet eases into the dry. This spread of months tracks the cooler, drier part of the tropical calendar, which suits a herb that dislikes constant humidity. Seed is slow to wake, taking 14 to 28 days, and plants reach a pickable size in 60 to 90 days. Thin seedlings to 30 cm apart with 30 cm between rows so the low rosettes have room. A sunny to lightly shaded spot with free-draining soil gives the tenderest, cucumber-flavoured leaves.
Sowing calendar — tropical zone
Green months are your sowing window: March to September.
Growing notes
Salad burnet is a hardy perennial herb prized for its fresh, cucumber-like young leaves. In cooler climates it lives for years, but in the tropics treat it as a dry-season annual, since wet-season heat and humidity quickly wear it out.
The most common failure here is rot and rapid decline once the wet arrives. Foliage sitting in humid, still air develops fungal spotting, and waterlogged roots collapse. Grow it in a raised, gritty bed with good airflow, water at the base, and accept that plants will fade as the humidity climbs in Darwin, Cairns, and Townsville.
Pick young leaves constantly, because old foliage turns bitter and coarse. Regular harvesting keeps the plant producing tender growth. If flower stems appear, cut them off to redirect energy into leaf. Feed only lightly, as rich soil produces soft, flavourless leaves prone to disease. A light dressing of compost at planting is usually enough for the whole season. In containers, burnet does well on a bright verandah where you can shelter it from the heaviest storms and keep the crown from staying wet. Slugs occasionally graze young rosettes, so check after rain.
Burnet at a glance
| Sowing depth | 8 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 30 cm |
| Row spacing | 30 cm |
| Germination | 14-28 days |
| Days to maturity | 60-90 days |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy |
| Method | Raise Seedlings,Sow Direct |
Common questions
- is salad burnet perennial in the tropics?
- Not reliably. In cooler climates it lives for years, but tropical wet-season heat and humidity wear it out, so treat it as a dry-season annual and resow each year.
- what does salad burnet taste like?
- The young leaves have a fresh, cucumber-like flavour, best in salads and cold drinks. Pick them young, because older foliage turns bitter and coarse.
- why is my burnet developing spotted, rotting leaves?
- Humidity and still air cause fungal spotting, and waterlogged roots make plants collapse. Grow in a raised, gritty bed with good airflow and water at the base rather than overhead.
- how do I keep burnet producing tender leaves?
- Harvest young leaves constantly and remove any flower stems that appear. Feed only lightly, since rich soil gives soft, flavourless growth that is more prone to disease.
Track burnet in your garden — sow dates, harvest countdowns, reminders. Free.
Add to my garden