December in Brisbane is the height of summer, heat and water management are the priority. Here’s exactly what to sow from seed, plant as seedlings, and harvest this month in a subtropical climate, tuned to Brisbane’s frosts and temperatures, not a generic national calendar.
Typical Temps
11-31°C
winter low to summer high
Frost
Frost-free
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Queensland
Frost watch: Brisbane's subtropical climate is frost-free across the city. Only elevated inland spots (Toowoomba, the Scenic Rim) see light frosts, the urban area grows year-round. See frost dates for every city →
Brisbane's subtropical summers are tough on cool-season crops, don't fight the season. Focus July-September on your best planting window for tomatoes and capsicum.
Fungal diseases like powdery mildew and early blight thrive in Brisbane's humid summers, choose disease-resistant tomato varieties and avoid overhead watering.
Sweet potato is a Brisbane superstar, plant slips in October and harvest 4-5 months later. It handles the summer heat better than almost any other crop.
Brisbane winters are mild enough to grow tomatoes (plant in March-April for winter harvest), something gardeners in southern states can only dream about.
From the makers
This calendar tells you what's possible in December, Plant Planner tells you exactly how many of each crop to grow for your family, how to arrange them in your beds, and sends reminders so you never miss a window.
In December, Brisbane gardeners can sow Sweetcorn, Cucumber, Beans, Spring Onion from seed, and plant out Sweet Potato, Eggplant, Capsicum (heat-tolerant), Okra as seedlings. Brisbane sits in the Subtropical climate zone, so these picks are timed to local conditions.
December falls in the height of summer, heat and water management are the priority. In Brisbane, expect winter lows around 11°C and summer highs near 31°C. Brisbane's subtropical climate is frost-free across the city. Only elevated inland spots (Toowoomba, the Scenic Rim) see light frosts, the urban area grows year-round.
December is generally not the ideal window for tomatoes in Brisbane, they're a warm-season crop sensitive to frost. Use December for the season's recommended crops above, and check the Brisbane calendar for the best tomato-planting months.
In a Brisbane garden, December typically brings harvests of Capsicum, Eggplant, Cucumber, Beans, Sweetcorn, Pumpkin, Zucchini. Actual timing depends on when each crop was planted.