Table of Contents

Use of these tools, assumes you agree to our terms, conditions and policies.

DescriptionDownloadComments
Rainwater tank sizing tsv_rainwater_calculator-v1.xlsx Can be used for initial estimates of water usage

Townsville Climate

Townsville will get most of it's annual rain over three months, and usually in one large weather system such as a cyclone or rain bands. For the remainder of the year it's dry and arid and humidity drops after the summer months have passed. It could be said that Townsville climate is a mixture of the arid drylands and tropical landscapes. Techniques that apply to both these areas apply to Townsville. Use of a mixuture will benefit your garden.

Seasons

September to October (WINDY & DRY)

April to September (COOL & DRY)

November to January (HOT, HUMID, DAMP)

February March April (HOT, HUMID, WET)

Kitchen Gardens in Townsville

By far the most appropriate time for traditional European vegetables is during the dry low humidity periods of the year that extend usually from April onwards to November when humidity and heat is within a suitable band. This is the time to grow your favourite vegetables and fruits with minimal disruption from pests and disease. Irrigation is necessary as it usually won't rain, and the sun angle remains relatively high even throughout the dry period of the year so no special orientation of beds or heat capture methods are necessary (usually). Your usual dry period diseases arrive, powdery mildews, Downey mildews etc.

During summer, all insects and molds increase in their growth and most traditional vegetables will not survive or produce a yield. Shade is essential to any vegetable garden in summer as most traditional plants will not survive the intense heat and dry between the rains.

Strategies

Water is precious in Townsville

The town water supply is somewhat reliant on consistent wet seasons year after year to recharge the catchment and back country for municipal water. During years of poor or below average rainfall it's not uncommon for water restrictions by the Council to be imposed. Any trees or extended garden outside a kitchen garden need to have mechanisms built into them to coast them through these dry periods when lots of irrigation is not necessarily possible using town water supply.

Collections of large numbers of trees and shrubs not adapted to dry periods on minimal water are best not planted in Townsville, if solely reliant on irrigation from town water. If bore water is available use sparingly and with care, to prevent depletion as well as soil salt build ups if present in the water.