Australian Planting Calendar 2026 — What to Plant Month by Month
Australia spans five distinct climate zones — and what you should plant this month in Darwin is completely different to what thrives in Melbourne or Hobart. Choose your city below for a complete 12-month planting calendar built around your local conditions: what to sow from seed, what to plant as seedlings, and what should be ready to harvest each month.
Covers all 8 major Australian cities across 4 climate zones.
Choose Your City
Each city calendar includes a full 12-month sow, plant, and harvest guide with city-specific tips and the current month highlighted.
🍂 Sydney
New South Wales
Plant now in May
Garlic, Broad Beans, Peas, Broccoli, Cauliflower & more
🍂 Melbourne
Victoria
Plant now in May
Garlic, Broad Beans, Peas, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts & more
☀️ Brisbane
Queensland
Plant now in May
Tomato, Beans, Peas, Tomato, Broccoli & more
🍂 Perth
Western Australia
Plant now in May
Garlic, Broad Beans, Peas, Broccoli, Cauliflower & more
🍂 Adelaide
South Australia
Plant now in May
Garlic, Broad Beans, Peas, Broccoli, Cauliflower & more
❄️ Hobart
Tasmania
Plant now in May
Garlic, Broad Beans, Spinach (cold-hardy), Garlic, Broad Beans & more
🌴 Darwin
Northern Territory
Plant now in May
Tomato, Capsicum, Eggplant, Tomato, Capsicum & more
❄️ Canberra
Australian Capital Territory
Plant now in May
Garlic, Broad Beans, Spinach, Garlic, Broad Beans & more
Australian Gardening by Climate Zone
Australia's vast geography creates dramatically different growing conditions. Understanding your climate zone is the foundation of any successful vegetable garden.
🍂Temperate Australia
Four distinct seasons. Spring and autumn are the key planting windows. Summers can be hot, winters mild to cool.
☀️Subtropical Australia
Mild winters are prime growing season. Warm, humid summers suit tropical crops but challenge cool-season vegetables.
❄️Cool Australia
Short frost-free season. Careful timing around frosts is essential. Cold winters produce outstanding brassicas and root crops.
🌴Tropical Australia
Year divided by Wet and Dry seasons. The dry season (May–September) is the prime growing window for most vegetables.
What Should You Plant This Month?
Our month-by-month guide breaks down what to plant right now across all five Australian climate zones — from tropical Darwin to cool-alpine Hobart. Find out what's in season for your zone this May.
From the makers
Get a Plan Built Around Your Beds and Family
City calendars tell you when to plant — Plant Planner tells you exactly how many plants to grow for your family, how to arrange them for maximum yield, and sends you reminders so you never miss a window.
Why City-Specific Planting Calendars Matter
Timing is Everything
Planting tomatoes in July in Melbourne is a waste of time and resources — they won't survive the frosts. But in Darwin or Brisbane, July is peak tomato season. Generic "Australian planting guides" miss these critical differences entirely.
Microclimates Count
Even within a city there are microclimates — a north-facing raised bed in a sheltered spot can be 3–5°C warmer than an exposed south-facing bed. Our city calendars provide the baseline; Plant Planner adjusts further for your exact postcode.
Maximise Your Harvest
Planting at the optimal time for your city means seeds germinate faster, plants grow more vigorously, and yields are higher. Missing the right window by even 4 weeks can halve your harvest for that season.
Get a Plan Built Around Your Beds and Family
These city calendars tell you when to plant — Plant Planner tells you exactly how many plants to grow for your family size, how to arrange them in your beds for maximum yield, which plants to place next to each other, and sends you reminders so you never miss a planting window again.
Start Planning FreeFree for up to 2 beds · No credit card required
Australian Planting Calendar — FAQs
What is the best planting calendar for Australia?
The best planting calendar for Australia is one tailored to your specific climate zone. Australia has five distinct zones — tropical, subtropical, temperate, cool/alpine and arid — and each has different sowing and harvest windows. Our free calendar provides month-by-month sow, plant and harvest tables for all eight major capital cities.
What vegetables should I plant this month in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone. In temperate zones (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide) autumn means planting brassicas, garlic, broad beans, peas and leafy greens; spring means tomatoes, capsicum, beans, zucchini and cucumber. Tropical zones (Darwin) plant the bulk of fruiting crops during the dry season (April–September). Open your city's calendar above for a complete monthly breakdown.
How is the Australian planting calendar different from the US or UK?
Australia's seasons are reversed (summer is December–February) and the country isn't divided by USDA-style hardiness zones — it's split into tropical, subtropical, temperate, cool and arid climate bands. Northern-hemisphere planting calendars are off by six months and miss these zones entirely, which is why following an overseas chart leads to crops planted at exactly the wrong time.
When should I start a vegetable garden in Australia?
The two best windows to start are early autumn (March–April) for cool-season crops like brassicas, peas, garlic and leafy greens, and early spring (September–October, after your last frost) for warm-season crops like tomatoes, beans and zucchini. In subtropical and tropical zones you can start almost any time; check your city's calendar for the current month.
Is the Australian planting calendar free?
Yes — the full month-by-month calendar for every Australian capital city is free to view and print. No sign-up required. For a personalised plan that combines your postcode, bed size and family size, the Plant Planner free tier covers up to 2 beds.
What is my Australian climate zone?
Tropical (Darwin, Cairns, Broome), Subtropical (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Northern NSW), Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide), Cool/Alpine (Canberra, Hobart, Blue Mountains), Arid (Alice Springs, Broken Hill). Your postcode is the most reliable way to determine zone — enter it on Plant Planner for a precise classification.