North Queensland Vegetable Planting Calendar: What to Plant Now
Tropical wet/dry calendar for North Queensland. 182 plants with monthly sow windows calibrated for local conditions.
This is our North Queensland vegetable planting calendar, covering Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and the Atherton Tablelands. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in North Queensland, then goes through the whole year, with sowing windows set for the tropical wet/dry climate of tropical North Queensland. 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. Tropical gardening 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 North Queensland
Every vegetable in our North Queensland 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), Edamame, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pigface, Queensland Arrowroot, Snake Beans, Sweet Potato, Taro, Warrigal Greens, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans | 17 |
| February | Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Jicama (Yam Bean), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pigface, Queensland Arrowroot, Snake Beans, Sweet Potato, Taro, Warrigal Greens, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans | 16 |
| March | Amaranth, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Cucumber, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Peanuts, Pigface, Snake Beans, Warrigal Greens | 12 |
| April | Beans (bush), Bitter Melon, Broccolini, Capsicum, Chilli, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Garlic, Hamburg Parsley, Jicama (Yam Bean), Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Onion, Parsnip, Peanuts, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Rockmelon, Shallot, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Watermelon, Zucchini | 29 |
| May | Beans (bush), Beetroot, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Collards, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Garlic, Hamburg Parsley, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Parsnip, Peanuts, 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, Watercress, Watermelon, Wombok, Zucchini | 64 |
| June | Beans (bush), Beetroot, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Collards, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Hamburg Parsley, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Parsnip, 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, Watercress, Watermelon, Wombok, Zucchini | 62 |
| July | Beans (bush), Beetroot, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Collards, Cucumber, Daikon, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Hamburg Parsley, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Parsnip, 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, Watercress, Watermelon, Wombok, Zucchini | 59 |
| August | Beans (bush), Beetroot, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Chilli, Collards, Cucumber, Daikon, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Ginger, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kale, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Lima (Butter) Beans, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Peas, Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turmeric, Turnip, Watercress, Watermelon, Wombok, Zucchini | 47 |
| September | Amaranth, Beetroot, Bok Choy, Brazilian Spinach, Carrot, Cassava, Chilli, Choko, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Eggplant, Gai Lan, Ginger, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Komatsuna, Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Okra, Pigface, Radish, Rocket, Silverbeet, Snake Beans, Sorghum, Sorrel, Spring Onion, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Taro, Tatsoi, Tomato, Turmeric, Warrigal Greens, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans | 38 |
| October | Amaranth, Beetroot, Brazilian Spinach, Carrot, Cassava, Choko, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Ginger, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pigface, Rosella, Snake Beans, Sorghum, Spring Onion, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Taro, Turmeric, Warrigal Greens, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans | 25 |
| November | Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cassava, Choko, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Ginger, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pigface, Queensland Arrowroot, Rosella, Snake Beans, Sorghum, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Taro, Turmeric, Warrigal Greens, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans | 23 |
| December | Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Edamame, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pigface, Queensland Arrowroot, Rosella, Snake Beans, Sorghum, Sweet Potato, Taro, Warrigal Greens, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans | 19 |
North Queensland vegetable sowing chart
33 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in North Queensland. 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 Sep | ||||||||||||
| Capsicum | Apr to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Chilli | Apr to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | Apr to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Zucchini | Apr to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | Mar to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | Apr to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | Apr to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | Apr to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Peas | May to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | May to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Broad Beans | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| 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 | Apr to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Coriander | May to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | all year | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | Apr to May | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | Apr to Aug |
Local timing notes for North Queensland
Where timing in North Queensland 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 Sep): Dry season window Apr to Sep (Apr to May is bridge month). Heat-tolerant varieties essential. Avoid wet season.
- Capsicum (Apr to Aug): Dry season crop. Bowen grows most of the national winter capsicum, planted Apr to Aug. Wet season planting invites fruit rot and fungal disease.
- Chilli (Apr to Sep): Sow Apr to Sep in the dry. Perennial in the tropics; established bushes carry through the wet season and crop for years.
- Eggplant (Apr to Sep): Dry season main window Apr to Sep. Heat tolerant and nearly year-round in FNQ, but wet season pest and disease pressure is severe.
- Zucchini (Apr to Aug): Dry season Apr to Aug. Townsville plants zucchini from May. Powdery mildew ends wet season plantings fast.
- Cucumber (Mar to Aug): Dry season Mar to Aug. Wet season humidity wrecks cucurbits with mildew; a winter crop here, not a summer one.
- Pumpkin (Apr to Aug): Dry season Apr to Aug. A Bowen winter crop. Mildew and fruit rot rule out wet season vines.
- Sweet Corn (Apr to Nov): Dry season crop in NQ. Bowen and the Burdekin plant sweet corn Apr to Nov. Avoid the Dec to Mar monsoon peak.
- Beans (bush) (Apr to Aug): Dry season Apr to Aug. Beans run right through the NQ dry; a winter crop at Bowen. Wet season humidity brings fungal collapse.
- 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 (May to Jul): Short cool window. Dry season only. Not a natural fit for tropics.
- Lettuce (May to Aug): Dry season only. Sow May to Aug with afternoon shade. Bolts fast once build-up heat arrives from September.
- 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 (Apr to Nov): Plant Apr to Nov. Townsville nurseries start basil in April. Downy mildew hits hard in the monsoon months Dec to Mar, so rest the bed then.
- 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): Grown as a dry season annual in NQ. Plant runners Apr to May, pick May to Aug, pull plants before the wet. No chill needed for annual cropping.
- Watermelon (Apr to Aug): Dry season crop. Bowen and Gumlu melons are planted Apr to Aug for the national winter supply. Wet season planting fails.
Browse by Category
Frost dates and climate in North Queensland
North Queensland 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 tropical North Queensland:
- Cairns (4870): no frost recorded in 2011 to 2020, so tender crops can go in whenever the calendar allows.
- Townsville (4810): no frost recorded in 2011 to 2020, so tender crops can go in whenever the calendar allows.
- Mackay (4740): 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.
North Queensland planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the North Queensland sowing windows, so they change only when our data changes.
The dry season (May to October)
84 vegetables can be sown at some point in the dry season. Sowing windows that open: in May, Peas, Snow Peas, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Spinach, Silverbeet, Kale, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage and 25 more; in August, Ginger and Turmeric; in September, Sweet Potato, Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cassava, Choko, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Okra and 7 more; in October, Rosella. Last chance before the season ends: May for Garlic and Peanuts; June for Cauliflower, Onion and Edamame; July for Broad Beans, Broccoli, Leek, Broccolini, Celery, Chicory, Hamburg Parsley, Kohlrabi, Luffa, Parsnip and 4 more; August for Capsicum, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Beans (bush), Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale and 16 more; September for Tomato, Chilli, Eggplant, Silverbeet, Bok Choy, Radish, Gai Lan, Komatsuna, Mibuna, Mizuna and 4 more. You can keep sowing Sweet Corn, Carrot, Beetroot, Jicama (Yam Bean) and Spring Onion through every month of it.
The wet season (November to April)
50 vegetables can be sown at some point in the wet season. Sowing windows that open: in November, Queensland Arrowroot; in December, Edamame; in March, Cucumber, Bitter Melon and Peanuts; in April, Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Zucchini, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Onion, Garlic and 15 more. Last chance before the season ends: November for Sweet Corn, Cassava, Choko, Ginger and Turmeric; December for Rosella and Sorghum; January for Edamame; February for Sweet Potato, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Queensland Arrowroot, Taro, Water Chestnut and Winged Beans; March for Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Pigface, Snake Beans and Warrigal Greens. You can keep sowing Jicama (Yam Bean) through every month of it.
North QLD-Specific Guides
Guides written specifically for North Queensland's tropical wet/dry climate, monsoon season, and dry season growing.
Dry season only, heat varieties What to Plant in Wet Season
Monsoon crops, tropical greens Growing Tropical Fruit
Mango, lychee, rambutan, jackfruit Start a Veggie Garden
Raised beds, pest pressure, timing Dry Season Gardening
Month-by-month Apr to Nov 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 NQ 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. - Darwin vegetable planting calendar
Darwin & Top End: tropical wet/dry, effectively frost free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I grow in North Queensland?
North Queensland 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 North Queensland?
You can start a vegetable garden in North Queensland 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 North Queensland's climate?
North Queensland'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 North Queensland's conditions.
What vegetables can I plant now in North Queensland?
It depends on the month. Going by our North Queensland 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 North Queensland 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 North Queensland?
North Queensland is effectively frost free across the region. Postcode records for Cairns (4870) show no frost in 2011 to 2020. Check your own postcode with the Frost Lookup.
When should I plant tomatoes in North Queensland?
Our North Queensland calendar has tomatoes sown or planted April to September. Dry season window Apr to Sep (Apr to May is bridge month). Heat-tolerant varieties essential. Avoid wet season. More in when to plant tomatoes in North Queensland.
When should I plant potatoes in North Queensland?
Our North Queensland 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.