Darwin Vegetable Planting Calendar: What to Plant Now
Tropical wet/dry calendar for Darwin & Top End. 173 plants with monthly sow windows calibrated for local conditions.
This is our Darwin vegetable planting calendar, covering Darwin, Katherine and Kununurra. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in Darwin, then goes through the whole year, with sowing windows set for the tropical wet/dry climate of Darwin and the Top End. 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. Gardening in the Top End runs on the wet and the dry rather than four seasons, so the season guide below is split that way.
Monthly Planting Calendar
Tropical north Australia (Cairns, Darwin, Townsville, Katherine) operates on a wet/dry cycle fundamentally different from southeast Queensland. Nov to Apr wet season brings 25 to 35°C, high humidity, and heavy monsoonal rain. This is ideal for heat-loving tropical crops but hostile to temperate vegetables. May to Oct dry season (18 to 32°C, low humidity) is the primary window for traditional vegetables, leafy greens, and cool-season brassicas. This is tropical fruit heartland: mango, banana, pawpaw, dragonfruit, lychee, and rambutan thrive year-round with extended sow windows.
Want frost dates for your own postcode, not just the region? Try the Frost Lookup.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for Darwin
Every vegetable in our Darwin 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 | Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pigface, Queensland Arrowroot, Snake Beans, Sorghum, Sweet Potato, Taro, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans | 15 |
| February | Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pigface, Queensland Arrowroot, Snake Beans, Sweet Potato, Taro, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans | 14 |
| March | Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Peanuts, Pigface, Popcorn, Shallot, Snake Beans, Sweet Corn, Water Chestnut | 12 |
| April | Beans (bush), Bitter Melon, Capsicum, Chilli, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Garlic, Jicama (Yam Bean), Lablab, Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Onion, Peanuts, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Rockmelon, Shallot, Squash, Sweet Corn, Tomatillo, Tomato, Warrigal Greens, Watermelon, Zucchini | 26 |
| May | Beans (bush), Beetroot, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chilli, Collards, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Garlic, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lablab, Leek, Lettuce, Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Peanuts, Peas, Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Shallot, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Squash, Swede, Sweet Corn, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Warrigal Greens, Watercress, Watermelon, Wombok, Zucchini | 61 |
| June | Beans (bush), Beetroot, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Collards, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lablab, Leek, Lettuce, Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Peas, Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Shallot, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Squash, Swede, Sweet Corn, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Warrigal Greens, Watercress, Watermelon, Wombok, Zucchini | 61 |
| July | Beans (bush), Beetroot, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Collards, Cucumber, Daikon, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lablab, Leek, Lettuce, Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Peas, Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Shallot, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Squash, Swede, Sweet Corn, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Warrigal Greens, Watercress, Watermelon, Wombok, Zucchini | 57 |
| August | Beans (bush), Beetroot, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Cabbage, Carrot, Chilli, Collards, Cucumber, Daikon, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Ginger, Kale, Komatsuna, Lablab, Lettuce, Lima (Butter) Beans, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Peas, Potato, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Tatsoi, Turmeric, Turnip, Warrigal Greens, Watercress, Watermelon, Wombok, Zucchini | 43 |
| September | Amaranth, Beetroot, Bok Choy, Brazilian Spinach, Carrot, Cassava, Choko, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Gai Lan, Ginger, Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Komatsuna, Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Okra, Pigface, Radish, Rocket, Silverbeet, Snake Beans, Sorghum, Sorrel, Sweet Potato, Taro, Tatsoi, Turmeric, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans | 31 |
| October | Amaranth, Beetroot, Brazilian Spinach, Carrot, Cassava, Choko, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Ginger, Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pigface, Rosella, Snake Beans, Sorghum, Sweet Potato, Taro, Turmeric, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans | 21 |
| November | Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cassava, Choko, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Ginger, Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pigface, Queensland Arrowroot, Rosella, Snake Beans, Sorghum, Sweet Potato, Taro, Turmeric, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans | 20 |
| December | Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pigface, Queensland Arrowroot, Rosella, Snake Beans, Sorghum, Sweet Potato, Taro, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans | 16 |
Darwin vegetable sowing chart
33 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in Darwin. 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 | Apr to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Capsicum | Apr to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Chilli | Apr to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | Apr to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Zucchini | Apr to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | Apr to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | Apr to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | Mar to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | Apr to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Peas | May to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | May to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Broad Beans | Not suited | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | May to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | May to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Silverbeet | May to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Kale | May to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Bok Choy | May to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | May to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | May to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Beetroot | May to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Radish | May to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Onion | Apr to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Apr to May | ||||||||||||
| Leek | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Potato | May to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Potato | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Basil | all year | ||||||||||||
| Coriander | May to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | all year | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | Apr to May | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | Apr to Aug |
Local timing notes for Darwin
Where timing in Darwin 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 (Apr to Jul): Dry season only. Sow Apr to Jul so fruit sets before the build up. Transplant seedlings Jun to Jul. Wet season sowings fail.
- Capsicum (Apr to Jul): Dry season crop. Sow from April to July, raising seedlings in trays and transplanting them from May. Sowings from August to February run into the build up and monsoon and fail.
- Chilli (Apr to Aug): Dry season sowing Apr to Aug. Perennial once established and may carry through the wet under cover. Avoid build up sowings.
- Eggplant (Apr to Aug): Dry season Apr to Aug. NT Government Darwin calendar grows eggplant through the dry. Wet season humidity brings fungal collapse.
- Zucchini (Apr to Aug): Dry season only Apr to Aug. Darwin zucchini die off once build up humidity arrives in Oct to Nov.
- Cucumber (Apr to Aug): Dry season only Apr to Aug. Cucurbits collapse with fungal disease in wet season humidity. Darwin harvest peaks Sep.
- Pumpkin (Apr to Jul): Dry season Apr to Jul. Long crop of 15 to 20 weeks so sow early dry. Wet season mildew destroys vines.
- Sweet Corn (Mar to Aug): Dry season main window Mar to Aug per NT growers. A November sowing for a wet season crop is possible but risky.
- Beans (bush) (Apr to Aug): Continuous dry season window Apr to Aug. Sep to Oct sowings hit the build up. Wet season rusts and rots beans.
- Peas (May to Aug): Dry season only. Cool-season crop; sow May to Aug. Peas fail in wet season humidity.
- Snow Peas (May to Aug): Dry season only. Sow May to Aug under shade cloth. Fails in wet season humidity and heat.
- Broad Beans (not suited): Not viable. Pod set needs cool conditions.
- Lettuce (May to Aug): Dry season only. Sow May to Aug. Bolts quickly in wet season heat/humidity; needs shade cloth even in dry season in Darwin.
- Spinach (May to Aug): Dry season only. Requires cool temperatures; sow May to Aug. Needs shade cloth.
- Silverbeet (May to Sep): Dry season main window May to Sep. Year-round possible with shade cloth in warmest months.
- Kale (May to Aug): Dry season only. Cool-season brassica; needs shade cloth even May to Aug in tropical heat.
- Bok Choy (May to Sep): Dry season. Sow May to Sep. Bok choy tolerates tropical dry season better than other brassicas.
- Broccoli (May to Jul): Dry season only. Broccoli very marginal in tropics; sow May to Jul with shade cloth mandatory.
- Cabbage (May to Aug): Dry season. Sow May to Aug. Cool-season brassica; challenging but possible with shade cloth.
- Cauliflower (May to Jun): Dry season only. Most difficult brassica in tropics; sow May to Jun with heavy shade cloth.
- Carrot (May to Oct): Dry season main window May to Oct. Carrot needs cool/moderate temps; plant after May start.
- Beetroot (May to Oct): Dry season May to Oct. Beetroot prefers cooler months; avoid wet season.
- Radish (May to Sep): Dry season only. Sow May to Sep. Radish bolts in wet season heat.
- Onion (Apr to Jun): Dry season only. Long crop cycle; sow Apr to Jun for Apr to Aug/Sep harvest.
- Garlic (Apr to May): Dry season only. Plant Apr to May. Garlic requires cool dry season for bulb formation.
- Leek (May to Jul): Dry season May to Jul. Leek needs cool temps; sow early in dry season.
- Potato (May to Aug): Dry season May to Aug. Potato needs cool temps; plant in dry season only. See how to grow potatoes.
- Sweet Potato (Sep to Feb): Late dry/wet season. Sweet potato is tropical staple. Plant Sep to Feb; harvest dry season. Grows year-round.
- Basil (all year): Year round in Darwin. Thrives in heat and humidity.
- Coriander (May to Sep): Dry season main window May to Sep. Coriander bolts in wet season heat.
- Parsley (all year): Year-round in tropical locations with water. Perennial herb; tolerates both seasons.
- Strawberry (Apr to May): Plant runners Apr to May as a dry season annual. Fruiting needs no winter chill.
- Watermelon (Apr to Aug): Dry season Apr to Aug. NT melons are a dry season signature crop harvested Sep to Oct. Fruit splits and rots in monsoon rain.
Browse by Category
Frost dates and climate in Darwin
Darwin & Top End has a tropical wet/dry climate, and our regional frost table lists it as effectively frost free, so the growing season runs all year. The wet season and the dry season set the calendar rather than frost: the May to October dry season is the main window for most vegetables, and the wet season suits heat-loving tropical crops.
Frost is local, so here is what the postcode records show for a few places across Darwin and the Top End:
- Darwin (0800): no frost recorded in 2011 to 2020, so tender crops can go in whenever the calendar allows.
- Palmerston (0830): no frost recorded in 2011 to 2020, so tender crops can go in whenever the calendar allows.
- Katherine (0850): no frost recorded in 2011 to 2020, so tender crops can go in whenever the calendar allows.
- Kununurra (6743): no frost recorded in 2011 to 2020, so tender crops can go in whenever the calendar allows.
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.
Darwin planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the Darwin sowing windows, so they change only when our data changes.
The dry season (May to October)
81 vegetables can be sown at some point in the dry season. Sowing windows that open: in May, Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Silverbeet, Kale, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower and 25 more; in June, Chicory and Radicchio; in August, Ginger and Turmeric; in September, Sweet Potato, Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cassava, Choko, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pigface and 5 more; in October, Rosella. Last chance before the season ends: May for Garlic and Peanuts; June for Cauliflower, Onion, Edamame and Jicama (Yam Bean); July for Tomato, Capsicum, Pumpkin, Broccoli, Leek, Broccolini, Celery, Chicory, Kohlrabi, Luffa and 6 more; August for Chilli, Eggplant, Zucchini, Cucumber, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach and 17 more; September for Silverbeet, Bok Choy, Radish, Gai Lan, Komatsuna, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Rocket, Sorrel and 1 more. You can keep sowing Carrot, Beetroot and Lablab through every month of it.
The wet season (November to April)
45 vegetables can be sown at some point in the wet season. Sowing windows that open: in November, Queensland Arrowroot; in March, Sweet Corn, Peanuts, Popcorn and Shallot; in April, Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Beans (bush), Onion, Garlic and 11 more. Last chance before the season ends: November for Cassava, Choko, Ginger and Turmeric; December for Rosella; January for Sorghum; February for Sweet Potato, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Queensland Arrowroot, Taro and Winged Beans; March for Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Pigface, Snake Beans and Water Chestnut. You can keep sowing Lablab through every month of it.
Darwin-Specific Guides
Guides written specifically for Darwin and the Top End's tropical climate, wet season challenges, and dry season growing.
May to Aug only, cherry varieties What to Plant in Wet Season
Monsoon crops, kangkong, sweet potato Growing Tropical Fruit
Mango capital, jackfruit, rambutan Start a Veggie Garden
Termite-proof beds, dry season focus Dry Season Gardening
Month-by-month May to Sep calendar
Growing Guides
In-depth guides for the most popular crops and techniques. These guides adapt to your region.
Free Monthly Planting Calendar
Get a personalised email each month with what to plant, seasonal tips, and harvest reminders for your region.
We send one email per month. Unsubscribe any time.
Free Printable Planting Calendars
A4 landscape PDFs for each month, stick one on the fridge.
Get NT calendars →Plan Your Garden with the Free App
Drag plants into beds, get sow reminders, and track your harvests. Works on phone, tablet, and desktop.
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. - Canberra vegetable planting calendar
Canberra & ACT: cool highlands, frost window 1 November to 10 April. - North Queensland vegetable planting calendar
North Queensland: tropical wet/dry, effectively frost free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I grow in Darwin?
Darwin has a tropical 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 Darwin?
You can start a vegetable garden in Darwin 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 Darwin's climate?
Darwin's tropical 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 Darwin's conditions.
What vegetables can I plant now in Darwin?
It depends on the month. Going by our Darwin calendar, from about April to August, as the dry season starts, you can sow Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin and Bitter Melon; from September to March, through the build-up and the wet, you can sow Sweet Potato, Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Snake Beans, Okra and Kang Kong (Water Spinach). The What to plant in Darwin 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 Darwin?
Darwin & Top End is effectively frost free across the region. Postcode records for Darwin (0800) show no frost in 2011 to 2020. Check your own postcode with the Frost Lookup.
When should I plant tomatoes in Darwin?
Our Darwin calendar has tomatoes sown or planted April to July. Dry season only. Sow Apr to Jul so fruit sets before the build up. Transplant seedlings Jun to Jul. Wet season sowings fail. More in when to plant tomatoes in Darwin.
When should I plant potatoes in Darwin?
Our Darwin calendar has potatoes sown or planted May to August. Dry season May to Aug. Potato needs cool temps; plant in dry season only. More in how to grow potatoes.