What to Plant in Winter in Adelaide

Cool-season crops for Adelaide's Mediterranean winter: brassicas, broad beans, garlic, and more

Adelaide's winter is cool and wet, with reliable rainfall from May to August and daytime temperatures of 12-16 degrees. These conditions are ideal for a large range of cool-season vegetables. The reliable winter rain means less watering, and the cool temperatures keep pests and diseases at bay.

Adelaide winters are colder than Sydney or Brisbane, with regular frost on the Plains and frequent hard frost in the Hills. Frost-tender crops need protection or should wait until spring. Cold-hardy vegetables, however, thrive in these conditions.

Brassicas: The Stars of Adelaide Winter

The brassica family performs brilliantly in Adelaide's cool, wet winters. Start seedlings in trays in March and transplant 4-6 weeks later. Protect from cabbage white butterfly with fine insect netting.

• Broccoli: Transplant seedlings in April and May. Harvest main heads from June and July, then side shoots continue for weeks. Varieties: Waltham 29, Green Sprouting, Di Cicco. Adelaide's cold nights improve flavour.
• Cauliflower: Transplant in April. Snowball, Purple Cape (produces in cold weather), and Romanesco are all reliable in Adelaide. Needs consistent moisture and rich soil.
• Cabbage: Green, red, and savoy types all grow well. Sugarloaf is fast-maturing. Transplant from April to June.
• Brussels sprouts: Adelaide's cold winters make this a reliable crop, unlike warmer regions where it struggles. Transplant seedlings in March or April. Harvest from July onwards. The flavour improves after frost exposure.
• Kale: Tuscan kale (cavolo nero), curly kale, and Red Russian. Extremely cold-hardy and productive through the entire winter. Sweetens after frost. Harvest outer leaves for months of continuous production.
• Kohlrabi: Fast-growing (8 weeks from transplant). Purple Vienna is widely available. Excellent raw in salads or cooked.

Legumes

Legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, improving it for the crops that follow. They are essential in Adelaide's winter rotation.

• Broad beans: The classic Adelaide winter crop. Sow direct from April to June. Aquadulce Claudia is the standard variety, bred for cold conditions. Coles Dwarf suits smaller gardens and exposed sites. Pinch out growing tips once pods form to reduce black aphid infestations.
• Peas: Sow from May to July. Snow peas (Oregon Sugar Pod) and sugar snap peas are the most productive types. Shelling peas (Greenfeast, Massey) for traditional garden peas. Provide a trellis or support. Adelaide's Hills gardeners get particularly good pea crops because of the sustained cold.
• Sweet peas: Sow alongside edible peas for cut flowers through winter and spring. They share the same growing conditions.

Alliums

• Garlic: Plant cloves from late April to June. Adelaide suits both soft-neck varieties (for plaiting and long storage) and hard-neck varieties (for stronger flavour and scapes). Plant 5 centimetres deep with the pointed end up, 15 centimetres apart. The Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills have ideal conditions for garlic. Harvest in November or December.
• Onions: Sow seed in March or buy seedling bunches from nurseries in April and May. Short-day varieties (Early Texas Grano, Cream Gold) suit Adelaide's latitude. Intermediate-day types (Creamgold, Brown Spanish) also work well.
• Leeks: Transplant seedlings in April and May. Slow-growing but trouble-free. Hill up soil around stems to blanch the lower portion. Harvest from August onwards. Musselburgh is the standard variety.
• Spring onions: Direct sow from March to August. Ready in 8-10 weeks. Sow every 3 weeks for continuous supply.

Leafy Greens and Root Vegetables

Leafy Greens

• Lettuce: All types grow well in Adelaide winter. Cos, butterhead, oakleaf, and loose-leaf varieties. Sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Protect from frost with cloche or fleece if temperatures drop below minus 2.
• Spinach (English): Thrives in Adelaide's cool, wet winter. Sow direct from April. Harvest baby leaves from 4 weeks or mature leaves from 8 weeks.
• Silverbeet: Nearly indestructible in Adelaide. Plant any time and harvest for 6 months or more. Rainbow chard adds colour.
• Rocket: Fast-growing in cool weather. Direct sow every 3 weeks. Mild, sweet flavour in winter compared to the bitter heat of summer-grown rocket.
• Asian greens: Bok choy, pak choy, tatsoi, mizuna, and wombok (Chinese cabbage). Sow from March to August. These grow well in Adelaide's cool conditions and hold without bolting.

Root Vegetables

• Carrots: Sow from March to July in Adelaide. Nantes types for general use. Baby carrots in 8 weeks, full-size in 12-14 weeks. Loose, well-prepared soil is essential.
• Beetroot: Sow direct from March to August. Fast and reliable. Bull's Blood for edible leaves and roots. Detroit Dark Red for classic round beets.
• Parsnips: Sow from March to May. Slow to germinate (2-3 weeks) and slow to mature (16-20 weeks). Worth the wait. Flavour improves after frost exposure.
• Turnips: Sow from April to July. Hakurei (Japanese salad turnip) is ready in 5-6 weeks. Purple Top White Globe for larger roots.
• Radish: Fastest crop in the garden, 4-5 weeks from sow to harvest. Sow direct every 2 weeks for continuous supply. French Breakfast and Cherry Belle are reliable.

Herbs for Adelaide Winter

• Coriander: Grows properly in Adelaide's cool, wet winter. Bolts to seed within days in summer, so winter is your window. Sow direct every 2-3 weeks from April to August.
• Parsley: Flat-leaf and curly varieties. Sow from March. Productive for 6 months or more. Handles frost well.
• Dill: Sow direct from April. Grows quickly in cool conditions.
• Chives: Plant divisions or seedlings any time. Hardy and productive year-round in Adelaide.
• Rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage: Mediterranean herbs thrive in Adelaide's climate. Winter is a good time to establish new plants, as the rain keeps them watered. They handle frost well once established.

A Winter Planting Schedule for Adelaide

March to April: Sow brassica seedlings in trays. Plant garlic cloves. Sow carrots, beetroot, lettuce, spinach, and Asian greens. Transplant leek and onion seedlings. Start coriander and dill.

May to June: Transplant brassica seedlings. Sow broad beans and peas direct. Continue sowing leafy greens and root crops. Last chance for garlic planting.

July to August: Sow lettuce, rocket, and spinach for succession. Start tomato and capsicum seeds indoors in late August. Sow spring onions and radish for quick harvests.

Frequently Asked Questions