Darwin, NT · Autumn
What to sow, plant, and harvest in Darwin across March, April, May, the full seasonal list, in the order an almanac would lay it out.
Months
March, April, May
Crops to sow
18
Seedlings to plant
12
Climate
Tropical
Autumn in Darwin is the underrated second planting window, brassicas, leafy greens, garlic, broad beans all go in as the heat eases. The city sits in tropical territory, winter lows around 19°C, summer highs around 35°C, and the autumn months (March, April, May) carry a recognisable rhythm that's worth knowing before you plant.
From seed in Darwin this autumn: Sweet Potato, Kangkong, Beans (heat-tolerant), Chilli, Basil, Tomato, Capsicum, Beans, Cucumber, Zucchini, Corn, Lettuce, Asian Greens, Eggplant, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beetroot. That's a long list, which is the upside of Darwin's tropical conditions in autumn, direct-sowing into raised beds gives you the best germination and the strongest root systems for the season ahead.
As seedlings in Darwin this autumn: Sweet Potato slips, Chilli seedlings, Tomato seedlings, Capsicum, Sweet Potato (last), Lettuce, Asian Greens, Tomato, Eggplant, Broccoli, Silverbeet, Leek. Buying seedlings from a local nursery shortens the calendar by 4-8 weeks compared to seed, which matters most in Darwin's shoulder windows.
Harvesting in Darwin this autumn: Sweet Potato, Chilli, Kangkong, Pumpkin (tropical), Lemongrass, Tomato (early), Beans, Cucumber, Lettuce, Asian Greens. The harvest peak runs across the season's middle month, when warm-season crops planted in the previous shoulder are coming into full production.
Darwin's gardening year is backwards to the south, your 'summer garden' is planted in April (start of dry season) not September. During the Wet season (October-April), elevated raised beds are crucial, Darwin soils can be waterlogged for days after monsoonal rain. If you want the printable, see the full Darwin planting calendar.
Darwin's autumn suits raised beds for the simple reason that raised beds drain faster and let you control the bed mix, both of which matter when the season's weather extremes try to either drown or bake your crops. The raised bed calculator sizes the bed; the companion planting guide fills it out.
For the month-by-month read, see the full Darwin planting calendar. To convert this season's list into an exact bed plan for your household, Plant Planner reads your postcode, your bed dimensions, and your family size and does the maths.
Sow from seed
Plant as seedlings
Harvest
In Darwin's autumn (March, April, May), you can sow from seed: Sweet Potato, Kangkong, Beans (heat-tolerant), Chilli, Basil, Tomato, Capsicum, Beans, Cucumber, Zucchini, Corn, Lettuce. From seedlings: Sweet Potato slips, Chilli seedlings, Tomato seedlings, Capsicum, Sweet Potato (last), Lettuce, Asian Greens, Tomato, Eggplant, Broccoli.
Across Darwin's autumn months, you'll be harvesting: Sweet Potato, Chilli, Kangkong, Pumpkin (tropical), Lemongrass, Tomato (early), Beans, Cucumber, Lettuce, Asian Greens.
The strongest autumn performer in Darwin depends on what you already grow, but high-yield, low-effort choices include Sweet Potato slips, Chilli seedlings, Tomato seedlings. The full crop-by-crop guides are linked above.
Frost risk in Darwin: Frost-free. Frost is less of a concern in this season, heat protection and irrigation matter more.
Tell us your postcode and your bed size. We’ll lay it out, size it for your household, and email reminders the weekend before each task.
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