Canberra Vegetable Planting Calendar: What to Plant Now
Cool highlands calendar for Canberra & ACT. 175 plants with monthly sow windows calibrated for local conditions.
This is our Canberra vegetable planting calendar, covering Canberra, Queanbeyan and the Southern Tablelands. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in Canberra, then goes through the whole year, with sowing windows set for the cool highlands climate of Canberra, the ACT and the Southern Tablelands. Further down you will find a sowing chart for popular vegetables, local timing notes, frost dates by postcode and a season-by-season guide, all from the same data that runs the Planting Season app. Canberra has the shortest frost-free window of any mainland region we cover, so this planting guide for Canberra leans on the frost dates as much as on the calendar.
Monthly Planting Calendar
Canberra has a cool temperate inland climate with late spring frosts (last frost around 1 November) and early autumn frosts (first frost from about 10 April), leaving a warm growing window of only about five months. Winters are cold (about 60 frosts a year, coldest nights near -6°C), ideal for cool-season crops and cold-hardy fruits. Summers are warm to hot with low humidity (January averages 29°C, hot spells pass 35°C). Transplant warm-season seedlings only after Melbourne Cup Day (early November) to avoid spring frost damage.
Want frost dates for your own postcode, not just the region? Try the Frost Lookup.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for Canberra
Every vegetable in our Canberra calendar, grouped by the month you can sow or plant it. Each month links to its full page with herbs, fruit, spacing, harvest times and companions.
| Month | Vegetables to sow or plant | Count |
|---|---|---|
| January | Beans (bush), Beetroot, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collards, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Daikon, Endive, Florence Fennel, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Parsnip, Pigface, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Silverbeet, Spring Onion, Swede, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 30 |
| February | Beetroot, Bok Choy, Carrot, Celery, Chicory, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Good King Henry, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Parsnip, Pigface, Radicchio, Radish, Rocket, Silverbeet, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 30 |
| March | Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Carrot, Chicory, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Garlic, Good King Henry, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Peas, Pigface, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Shallot, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Tatsoi, Watercress | 31 |
| April | Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Daikon, Fennel, Gai Lan, Garlic, Good King Henry, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Peas, Rhubarb, Rocket, Shallot, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Tatsoi, Watercress | 23 |
| May | Broad Beans, Fennel, Garlic, Good King Henry, Lettuce, Onion, Peas, Rhubarb, Shallot, Sorrel | 10 |
| June | Broad Beans, Fennel, Good King Henry, Peas, Rhubarb, Sorrel | 6 |
| July | Asparagus, Broad Beans, Fennel, Good King Henry, Peas, Rhubarb, Sorrel | 7 |
| August | Asparagus, Broad Beans, Collards, Fennel, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Horseradish, Kale, Lettuce, Onion, Peas, Rhubarb, Rocket, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Watercress | 19 |
| September | Asparagus, Beetroot, Bok Choy, Cabbage, Carrot, Celeriac, Celery, Collards, Daikon, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Onion, Parsnip, Pigface, Potato, Radish, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 37 |
| October | Beetroot, Bok Choy, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Celeriac, Celery, Chilli, Collards, Daikon, Eggplant, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Parsnip, Pigface, Potato, Radish, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Spinach, Spring Onion, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Warrigal Greens, Watercress | 39 |
| November | Amaranth, Beans (bush), Beetroot, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chilli, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Endive, Hamburg Parsley, Leek, Lettuce, Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Parsnip, Peanuts, Pigface, Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radish, Rockmelon, Salsify, Scarlet Runner Bean, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Tomatillo, Tomato, Warrigal Greens, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini | 47 |
| December | Amaranth, Beans (bush), Beetroot, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Cucumber, Edamame, Endive, Florence Fennel, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Lima (Butter) Beans, Parsnip, Pigface, Popcorn, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Scarlet Runner Bean, Silverbeet, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Watercress, Wombok, Zucchini | 35 |
Canberra vegetable sowing chart
33 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in Canberra. Shaded months are open sowing windows, and the last column spells them out. Seed started indoors or in trays counts as a sowing where our data says so.
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Sow or plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Capsicum | Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Chilli | Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Zucchini | Nov to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | Nov to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | Nov | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | Nov to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | Nov to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Peas | Mar to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | Aug to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Broad Beans | Mar to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | Aug to May | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | Mar to Apr and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Silverbeet | Aug to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Kale | Jan to Mar and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Bok Choy | Feb to Apr and Sep to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | Nov to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | Sep to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | Nov to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Beetroot | Sep to Apr | ||||||||||||
| Radish | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Onion | Apr to May and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Mar to May | ||||||||||||
| Leek | Sep to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Potato | Sep to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Potato | Nov to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Basil | Nov to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Coriander | Feb to Apr and Sep to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | Sep to May | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | Mar to May | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | Nov |
Local timing notes for Canberra
Where timing in Canberra differs from the baseline calendar, our data carries a local note. These are the same notes the app and the plant pages show for this region, and they explain the shape of the chart above.
- Tomato (Oct to Nov): Start seed indoors or under cover in October, then plant out after the last frost in early November. Direct sowing before November is too risky.
- Capsicum (Oct to Nov): Start seed indoors with warmth in October, then plant out after the last frost in early November. Needs a long warm season; choose early maturing varieties.
- Chilli (Oct to Nov): Start seed indoors with warmth in October, then plant out after the last frost in early November. Choose quick varieties so fruit ripens before the April frosts.
- Eggplant (Oct to Nov): Start seed indoors with warmth in October, then plant out after the last frost in early November. Needs a longer season than tomato, so choose early varieties.
- Zucchini (Nov to Dec): Frost tender. Sow direct Nov to Dec after the last frost in early November. Crops hard until the first autumn frost.
- Cucumber (Nov to Dec): Sow direct Nov to Dec after the last frost in early November. Frost kills; harvest before the April frosts.
- Pumpkin (Nov): Sow in November after the last frost. Pumpkins need 80 to 120 frost free days, so later sowings will not ripen before the April frosts.
- Sweet Corn (Nov to Dec): Sow Nov to Dec into warm soil after the last frost in early November. Choose early maturing varieties; plant in blocks for pollination.
- Beans (bush) (Nov to Jan): Frost tender, not a cool season crop. Sow Nov to Jan once the last frost has passed in early November and the soil warms. Pick before the April frosts.
- Peas (Mar to Aug): Peas thrive in Canberra's cool season; sow Mar to Aug; frost-hardy; needs support; prolonged cool weather improves flavour.
- Snow Peas (Aug to Nov): Sow Aug to Nov. Spring is the reliable window; autumn sowings risk losing flowers to hard frost.
- Broad Beans (Mar to Aug): Canberra's cold winters are perfect for broad beans. Signature crop.
- Lettuce (Aug to May): Sow Aug to May. Midwinter sowing fails in frozen soil; use a frame or wait for August. Succession sow every 2 to 3 weeks.
- Spinach (Mar to Apr and Aug to Oct): Sow Mar to Apr for autumn or Aug to Oct for spring. Midwinter soil is too cold for germination.
- Silverbeet (Aug to Feb): Sow Aug to Feb. Established plants stand through winter; growth pauses in heavy frost and resumes in spring.
- Kale (Jan to Mar and Aug to Oct): Sow Jan to Mar for winter kale; frost sweetens the leaves. Sow Aug to Oct for a spring crop.
- Bok Choy (Feb to Apr and Sep to Oct): Main sowing Feb to Apr for autumn harvest; quick spring crop Sep to Oct. Winter too cold, midsummer bolts.
- Broccoli (Nov to Jan): Sow from November to January and transplant from January to March for autumn and winter heads. This follows the planting timing of the Canberra Organic Growers Society (COGS).
- Cabbage (Sep to Jan): Sow Sep to Jan, transplant up to Mar. Hardy; autumn and winter harvest. Choose cold hardy varieties.
- Cauliflower (Nov to Jan): Sow Nov to Jan, transplant Jan to Mar so heads form in cool autumn. Later sowings stall in winter cold.
- Carrot (Sep to Mar): Sow Sep to Mar into warm soil; seed fails in cold winter soil. Mature roots stand through frost.
- Beetroot (Sep to Apr): Sow Sep to Apr. Winter soil is too cold for germination; established roots tolerate frost well.
- Radish (Sep to Mar): Fast crop. Sow Sep to Mar; winter sowings fail in cold soil. Succession sow every 3 weeks.
- Onion (Apr to May and Aug to Sep): Stagger: sow early varieties Apr to May, mid and late varieties Aug to Sep. Harvest summer when tops fall.
- Garlic (Mar to May): Garlic is ideal for Canberra (premier region); plant cloves Mar to May in autumn; Monaro Purple and Porcelain varieties thrive; harvest Oct to Nov.
- Leek (Sep to Jan): Sow Sep to Jan, transplant pencil thick seedlings. Fully frost hardy; stands in the ground all winter.
- Potato (Sep to Jan): Plant Sep to Dec after soil warms; hill well as late frosts burn early shoots. Jan planting gives a quick autumn crop. Never plant into frozen winter soil. See how to grow potatoes.
- Sweet Potato (Nov to Dec): Very marginal. Plant slips Nov to Dec in the warmest bed; harvest before the April frost. Expect small yields.
- Basil (Nov to Dec): Frost kills basil. Sow Nov to Dec after the last frost in early November. The short warm window limits the season.
- Coriander (Feb to Apr and Sep to Oct): Sow Feb to Apr or Sep to Oct. Bolts fast in summer heat; winter soil too cold to germinate.
- Parsley (Sep to May): Sow Sep to May; winter soil is too cold for germination. Established plants stand through frost.
- Strawberry (Mar to May): Plant from March to May. Canberra's cold winters suit strawberries, and the harvest runs from October to January. Plants are perennial but are best replaced every 2 to 3 years.
- Watermelon (Nov): Sow in November once the last frost has passed. Marginal short season; quick small fruited varieties only.
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Frost dates and climate in Canberra
Canberra & ACT has a cool highlands climate. Across the region the average last spring frost falls around 1 November and the first autumn frost around 10 April, which leaves a growing season of about 160 days for frost-tender crops such as tomatoes, beans, pumpkins and basil. Those are regional midpoints: a frost pocket, a slope or a warm wall can shift your own dates by weeks.
Frost is local, so here is what the postcode records show for a few places across Canberra, the ACT and the Southern Tablelands:
- Canberra City (2601): frost in 10 of the last 10 winters; typical last frost 7 October; safe for tender crops 9 years in 10 from 1 November; typical first frost 5 May; about 59 frosty mornings a year.
- Queanbeyan (2620): frost in 10 of the last 10 winters; typical last frost 7 October; safe for tender crops 9 years in 10 from 1 November; typical first frost 29 April; about 64 frosty mornings a year.
- Goulburn (2580): frost in 10 of the last 10 winters; typical last frost 1 October; safe for tender crops 9 years in 10 from 21 October; typical first frost 5 May; about 42 frosty mornings a year.
Enter your own postcode in the Frost Lookup for your typical last and first frost. Postcode figures: SILO (Queensland Government), daily minimum temperatures 2011 to 2020, CC BY 4.0.
Canberra planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the Canberra sowing windows, so they change only when our data changes.
Spring in Canberra (September to November)
66 vegetables can be sown at some point in spring. Sowing windows that open: in September, Bok Choy, Cabbage, Carrot, Beetroot, Radish, Leek, Potato, Celeriac, Celery, Daikon and 12 more; in October, Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Brussels Sprouts, Tomatillo and Warrigal Greens; in November, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Broccoli, Cauliflower, Sweet Potato, Watermelon, Amaranth and 12 more. Last chance before the season ends: September for Onion, Asparagus, Good King Henry, Sorrel and Turnip; October for Spinach, Kale, Bok Choy, Collards, Daikon, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Komatsuna and 4 more. You can keep sowing Snow Peas, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Cabbage, Carrot, Beetroot, Radish, Leek, Potato, Celeriac, Celery, Hamburg Parsley, Parsnip, Pigface and 4 more through every month of it.
Summer in Canberra (December to February)
50 vegetables can be sown at some point in summer. Sowing windows that open: in December, Chicory, Florence Fennel, Kohlrabi, Radicchio and Wombok; in January, Kale, Collards, Daikon, Mustard Greens, Swede and Turnip; in February, Bok Choy, Celery, Gai Lan, Good King Henry, Komatsuna, Mibuna, Mizuna, Rocket and Tatsoi. Last chance before the season ends: December for Zucchini, Cucumber, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Amaranth, Edamame, Lima (Butter) Beans, Popcorn, Quinoa, Scarlet Runner Bean and 1 more; January for Beans (bush), Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leek, Potato, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts and Cowpeas (Southern Peas). You can keep sowing Lettuce, Silverbeet, Carrot, Beetroot, Radish, Chicory, Endive, Florence Fennel, Kohlrabi, Parsnip, Pigface, Radicchio, Spring Onion, Watercress and 1 more through every month of it.
Autumn in Canberra (March to May)
32 vegetables can be sown at some point in autumn. Sowing windows that open: in March, Peas, Broad Beans, Spinach, Garlic, Fennel, Rhubarb, Shallot and Sorrel; in April, Onion. Last chance before the season ends: March for Kale, Carrot, Radish, Chicory, Collards, Endive, Kohlrabi, Pigface and Radicchio; April for Spinach, Bok Choy, Beetroot, Daikon, Gai Lan, Komatsuna, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Rocket and 3 more. You can keep sowing Peas, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Garlic, Fennel, Good King Henry, Rhubarb, Shallot and Sorrel through every month of it.
Winter in Canberra (June to August)
19 vegetables can be sown at some point in winter. Sowing windows that open: in July, Asparagus; in August, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Silverbeet, Kale, Onion, Collards, Globe Artichoke, Horseradish, Rocket and 2 more. You can keep sowing Peas, Broad Beans, Fennel, Good King Henry, Rhubarb and Sorrel through every month of it. For more detail, see what to plant in winter in Canberra and the best winter vegetables across Australia.
Canberra-Specific Guides
Guides written specifically for Canberra and the ACT's highland climate, hard frosts, and short growing season.
Very short season, greenhouse start What to Plant in Winter
Hardy crops for -7°C frosts Managing Frost in Canberra
Frost dates, protection, microclimates Start a Veggie Garden
Alkaline clay, water restrictions Raised Bed Gardening
Wicking beds, soil warming
Growing Guides
In-depth guides for the most popular crops and techniques. These guides adapt to your region.
Free Monthly Planting Calendar
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Free Printable Planting Calendars
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Open the App Free →Planting calendars for other Australian cities
Gardening somewhere else? Each region has its own sowing windows, frost dates and month pages. For a national overview, see what vegetables to plant now across Australia.
- Sydney vegetable planting calendar
Sydney & Coastal NSW: warm temperate, effectively frost free. - Brisbane vegetable planting calendar
South East Queensland: subtropical, effectively frost free. - Northern Rivers vegetable planting calendar
Northern Rivers NSW: subtropical, effectively frost free. - Melbourne vegetable planting calendar
Melbourne & Victoria: cool temperate, frost window 10 September to 15 May. - Adelaide vegetable planting calendar
Adelaide & SA: Mediterranean, frost window 20 August to 1 June. - Perth vegetable planting calendar
Perth & WA: Mediterranean, effectively frost free. - Hobart vegetable planting calendar
Tasmania: cool temperate, frost window 5 October to 25 April. - North Queensland vegetable planting calendar
North Queensland: tropical wet/dry, effectively frost free. - Darwin vegetable planting calendar
Darwin & Top End: tropical wet/dry, effectively frost free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I grow in Canberra?
Canberra has a cool continental climate that supports a wide range of edible plants year-round. You can grow vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, and native edibles. The key is choosing the right crops for each season and planting at the right time. Use the monthly guides above to see exactly what to plant each month.
When is the best time to start a vegetable garden in Canberra?
You can start a vegetable garden in Canberra any time of year. Autumn and spring are the easiest seasons for beginners because temperatures are mild and many crops thrive. Pick a spot with at least six hours of sun, prepare your soil with compost, and choose crops from the current month's planting list.
What grows best in Canberra's climate?
Canberra's cool continental climate suits a specific range of crops each season. Use the monthly planting calendars above to find the best crops for right now. Each listing includes sowing windows, spacing, harvest timing, and companion planting suggestions tailored to Canberra's conditions.
What vegetables can I plant now in Canberra?
It depends on the month. Going by our Canberra calendar, in spring (Sep to Nov) you can sow Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Snow Peas, Lettuce and Spinach; in summer (Dec to Feb) you can sow Beans (bush), Lettuce, Silverbeet, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage and Cauliflower; in autumn (Mar to May) you can sow Peas, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Spinach, Bok Choy, Beetroot and Onion; in winter (Jun to Aug) you can sow Peas, Broad Beans, Asparagus, Fennel, Good King Henry, Rhubarb and Sorrel. The What to plant in Canberra now section at the top of this page always shows the current month, and each month page lists every crop.
When is the last frost in Canberra?
Across Canberra & ACT the average last spring frost is around 1 November and the first autumn frost around 10 April, a growing season of about 160 days. Postcode records for Canberra City (2601) give a typical last frost of 7 October, and 9 years in 10 it is safe to plant tender crops from 1 November. Check your own postcode with the Frost Lookup.
When should I plant tomatoes in Canberra?
Our Canberra calendar has tomatoes sown or planted October to November. Start seed indoors or under cover in October, then plant out after the last frost in early November. Direct sowing before November is too risky. More in when to plant tomatoes in Canberra.
When should I plant potatoes in Canberra?
Our Canberra calendar has potatoes sown or planted September to January. Plant Sep to Dec after soil warms; hill well as late frosts burn early shoots. Jan planting gives a quick autumn crop. Never plant into frozen winter soil. More in how to grow potatoes.