Sydney Vegetable Planting Calendar: What to Plant Now
Warm temperate calendar for Sydney & Coastal NSW. 223 plants with monthly sow windows calibrated for local conditions.
This is our Sydney vegetable planting calendar, covering Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, the Illawarra and the Hunter. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in Sydney, then goes through the whole year, with sowing windows set for the warm temperate climate of coastal New South Wales. 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. For the subtropical far north coast of NSW use the Northern Rivers calendar, and for the cold Southern Tablelands use the Canberra calendar.
Monthly Planting Calendar
Sydney and coastal NSW (Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Illawarra, Northern Beaches, Sutherland) enjoy a frost-free to light-frost climate with cool winters that extend the brassica window significantly beyond SEQ. Cool-season crops (brassicas, leafy greens, peas, beans) thrive longer through winter than subtropical regions. Warm-season fruiting crops start 2-4 weeks later in spring due to cooler spring soil temperatures. Tropical fruits like banana, mango, pawpaw, dragonfruit, and cassava are marginal and require sheltered positions; ginger, turmeric and taro need extended growing seasons and pre-sprouting.
Want frost dates for your own postcode, not just the region? Try the Frost Lookup.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for Sydney
Every vegetable in our Sydney 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, Beans (bush), Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Brussels Sprouts, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Cucumber, Edamame, Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Lettuce, Malabar Spinach, Pigface, Silverbeet, Snake Beans, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Warrigal Greens, Water Chestnut, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini | 23 |
| February | Beans (bush), Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Chicory, Collards, Cucumber, Florence Fennel, Kale, Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Pigface, Radicchio, Silverbeet, Spring Onion, Swede, Warrigal Greens, Watercress, Wombok, Zucchini | 26 |
| March | Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Garlic, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Pigface, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Silverbeet, Sorrel, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Warrigal Greens, Watercress, Wombok | 49 |
| April | Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Garlic, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 51 |
| May | Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Garlic, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 51 |
| June | Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrot, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 48 |
| July | Asparagus, Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Broccolini, Capsicum, Carrot, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Collards, Daikon, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Tatsoi, Tomato, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 49 |
| August | Asparagus, Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccolini, Capsicum, Carrot, Chilli, Collards, Daikon, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Ginger, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spring Onion, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turmeric, Turnip, Watercress | 42 |
| September | Asparagus, Beans (bush), Beetroot, Bok Choy, Capsicum, Carrot, Chilli, Choko, Cucumber, Eggplant, Gai Lan, Ginger, Globe Artichoke, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Pigface, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Scarlet Runner Bean, Silverbeet, Sorrel, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turmeric, Warrigal Greens, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini | 41 |
| October | Amaranth, Beans (bush), Beetroot, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Capsicum, Carrot, Cassava, Chilli, Choko, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Ginger, Jicama (Yam Bean), Lablab, Lettuce, Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Pigface, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Queensland Arrowroot, Quinoa, Rockmelon, Rosella, Scarlet Runner Bean, Silverbeet, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Taro, Tomatillo, Turmeric, Warrigal Greens, Watercress, Watermelon, Winged Beans, Zucchini | 44 |
| November | Amaranth, Beans (bush), Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Capsicum, Cassava, Chilli, Choko, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Jicama (Yam Bean), Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Pigface, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Queensland Arrowroot, Quinoa, Rockmelon, Rosella, Scarlet Runner Bean, Silverbeet, Snake Beans, Sorghum, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Taro, Tomatillo, Warrigal Greens, Water Chestnut, Watercress, Watermelon, Winged Beans, Zucchini | 43 |
| December | Amaranth, Beans (bush), Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Brussels Sprouts, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Cucumber, Edamame, Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Lablab, Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pigface, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Queensland Arrowroot, Rockmelon, Rosella, Silverbeet, Snake Beans, Sorghum, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Warrigal Greens, Water Chestnut, Watercress, Watermelon, Winged Beans, Zucchini | 33 |
Sydney vegetable sowing chart
33 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in Sydney. 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 | Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Capsicum | Jul to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Chilli | Jul to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | Jul to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Zucchini | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | Sep to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | Sep to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Peas | Apr to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | Apr to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Broad Beans | Mar to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | Jan to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | Apr to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Silverbeet | all year | ||||||||||||
| Kale | Feb to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Bok Choy | Mar to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | Feb to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | Feb to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | Feb to May | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | Feb to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Beetroot | Feb to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Radish | Mar to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Onion | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Mar to May | ||||||||||||
| Leek | Mar to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Potato | Mar to May and Aug | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Potato | Oct to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Basil | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Coriander | Mar to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | all year | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | Mar to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | Sep to Jan |
Local timing notes for Sydney
Where timing in Sydney 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 (Jul to Sep): Sow from July to September, starting seed indoors in July and August. Transplant in September and October once frost risk has passed.
- Capsicum (Jul to Nov): Sow from July to November. Start July and August sowings indoors with warmth, then transplant them in September or October once frost risk has passed and the soil reaches 18°C.
- Chilli (Jul to Nov): Start indoors earlier (July) than SEQ; transplant Sept to Oct.
- Eggplant (Jul to Nov): Sow indoors Jul to Aug; transplant late Oct to Nov once soil passes 20°C (24°C ideal). September transplants stall in cold soil.
- Zucchini (Sep to Feb): Start indoors late Aug; direct sow Sept+ when soil warms; avoid frost.
- Cucumber (Sep to Feb): Sow from September to February. Start September sowings indoors, then direct sow from October once the soil warms to 18°C.
- Pumpkin (Sep to Dec): Sow from September to December, once the soil has warmed in spring. Avoid winter sowing; the window is shorter than in SEQ.
- Sweet Corn (Sep to Jan): Spring planting (Sept+); shorter season than tropical baseline.
- Beans (bush) (Sep to Feb): Spring planting optimal; avoid winter. Summer window extends Dec to Feb in milder coastal areas.
- Peas (Apr to Aug): Extended cool-season window; May to August more reliable than SEQ baseline.
- Snow Peas (Apr to Aug): Extended cool-season window. Trellis climbing types; pick every 2-3 days for continuous harvest.
- Broad Beans (Mar to Aug): Extended cool season. Sow Mar to Aug. Sydney's cool winters suit broad beans well.
- Lettuce (Jan to Oct): Year-round in mild coastal areas; April to Sept most reliable; avoid peak summer heat.
- Spinach (Apr to Jul): Heat-sensitive; winter-only crop; April to July optimal for cool-season harvest.
- Kale (Feb to Aug): Extended cool-season window; robust through Sydney winter; can plant June to July.
- Bok Choy (Mar to Sep): Better in cool season; extend autumn plantings into August.
- Broccoli (Feb to Jul): Cool winters extend harvest; June plantings successful for winter harvest.
- Cabbage (Feb to Jun): Winter harvest window extends; June plantings OK for deep-winter harvest.
- Cauliflower (Feb to May): Cool winters allow later plantings (May) for winter harvest.
- Carrot (Feb to Oct): Extended cool season; reliable year-round except Nov to Jan heat stress.
- Beetroot (Feb to Oct): Longer cool-season window than SEQ; reliable March to October.
- Onion (Mar to Jul): Sow early varieties Mar to May. Mid-season varieties go in Jun to Jul and are ready in early summer.
- Garlic (Mar to May): Plant cloves from March to May, the same window as SEQ. The bulbs then grow through Sydney's winter chill, which yields quality bulbs.
- Leek (Mar to Aug): Long cool-season window; July plantings mature through winter.
- Potato (Mar to May and Aug): Plant an autumn crop from March to May and a late winter crop in August. Avoid frost and the summer heat. See how to grow potatoes.
- Sweet Potato (Oct to Dec): A genuine Sydney win on the frost-free coast: plant slips Oct to Dec once soil passes 17°C, harvest 15 to 17 weeks later. West: plant after last frost.
- Basil (Sep to Mar): Start indoors September; transplant outdoors October onward after frost risk passes and soil warms to 18°C+.
- Strawberry (Mar to Jun): Plant runners Mar to Jun. Cooler winters than SEQ give a longer establishment window and a spring crop.
- Watermelon (Sep to Jan): Spring planting (Sept+); start indoors late Aug; shorter season than SEQ.
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Frost dates and climate in Sydney
Sydney & Coastal NSW has a warm temperate climate, and our regional frost table lists it as effectively frost free, so the growing season runs all year. Soil temperature and summer heat set the calendar rather than frost: warm-season crops wait for spring soil to warm, and cool-season greens and brassicas are sown before the heat arrives.
Frost is local, so here is what the postcode records show for a few places across coastal New South Wales:
- Sydney CBD (2000): no frost recorded in 2011 to 2020, so tender crops can go in whenever the calendar allows.
- Parramatta (2150): frost is rare, recorded in only 1 of the last 10 winters. When it comes, holding tender crops until about 16 July is the safe choice.
- Penrith (2750): frost in 7 of the last 10 winters; typical last frost 23 July; safe for tender crops 9 years in 10 from 26 August; typical first frost 1 July; about 2 frosty mornings a year.
- Gosford (2250): frost is rare, recorded in only 1 of the last 10 winters. When it comes, holding tender crops until about 30 August is the safe choice.
- Wollongong (2500): no frost recorded in 2011 to 2020, so tender crops can go in whenever the calendar allows.
- Newcastle (2300): 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.
Sydney planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the Sydney sowing windows, so they change only when our data changes.
Spring in Sydney (September to November)
63 vegetables can be sown at some point in spring. Sowing windows that open: in September, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Watermelon, Choko, Pigface, Popcorn, Quinoa and 4 more; in October, Sweet Potato, Amaranth, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Cassava, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Edamame, Jicama (Yam Bean), Lablab, Lima (Butter) Beans and 8 more; in November, Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Snake Beans, Sorghum and Water Chestnut. Last chance before the season ends: September for Tomato, Bok Choy, Radish, Asparagus, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Komatsuna, Mibuna and 5 more; October for Lettuce, Carrot, Beetroot, Ginger and Turmeric. You can keep sowing Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Silverbeet, Watermelon, Choko, Pigface, Popcorn, Quinoa and 7 more through every month of it.
Summer in Sydney (December to February)
49 vegetables can be sown at some point in summer. Sowing windows that open: in December, Brussels Sprouts; in January, Lettuce; in February, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beetroot, Celeriac, Chicory, Collards, Florence Fennel and 5 more. Last chance before the season ends: December for Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Lima (Butter) Beans, Luffa, Okra, Popcorn, Queensland Arrowroot, Rockmelon, Rosella, Sorghum and 1 more; January for Sweet Corn, Watermelon, Amaranth, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Cowpeas (Southern Peas), Edamame, Lablab, Malabar Spinach, Snake Beans and 2 more. You can keep sowing Zucchini, Cucumber, Beans (bush), Silverbeet, Brussels Sprouts, Kang Kong (Water Spinach), Pigface, Spring Onion, Warrigal Greens and Watercress through every month of it.
Autumn in Sydney (March to May)
53 vegetables can be sown at some point in autumn. Sowing windows that open: in March, Broad Beans, Bok Choy, Radish, Onion, Garlic, Leek, Potato, Broccolini, Celery, Daikon and 18 more; in April, Peas, Snow Peas, Spinach and Parsnip. Last chance before the season ends: March for Pigface and Warrigal Greens. You can keep sowing Broad Beans, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Kale, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beetroot, Radish, Onion, Garlic, Leek and 33 more through every month of it.
Winter in Sydney (June to August)
57 vegetables can be sown at some point in winter. Sowing windows that open: in June, Horseradish; in July, Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant and Asparagus; in August, Potato, Ginger, Tomatillo and Turmeric. Last chance before the season ends: June for Cabbage, Celeriac, Florence Fennel and Shallot; July for Spinach, Broccoli, Onion, Celery, Chicory, Hamburg Parsley, Kohlrabi, Radicchio, Salsify, Scorzonera and 1 more. You can keep sowing Peas, Snow Peas, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Kale, Bok Choy, Carrot, Beetroot, Radish, Leek, Broccolini, Collards, Daikon and 19 more through every month of it. For more detail, see what to plant in winter in Sydney and the best winter vegetables across Australia.
Sydney-Specific Guides
Guides written specifically for Sydney and coastal NSW conditions, microclimates, and timing.
Timing, varieties, suburb differences What to Plant in Winter
30+ crops for Sydney's mild winter Growing Citrus in Sydney
Varieties, feeding, pest management Start a Veggie Garden in Sydney
Beginner's five-step guide Clay Soil Gardening
Fix Wianamatta shale clay
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.
- 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. - Darwin vegetable planting calendar
Darwin & Top End: tropical wet/dry, effectively frost free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I grow in Sydney?
Sydney has a warm temperate 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 Sydney?
You can start a vegetable garden in Sydney 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 Sydney's climate?
Sydney's warm temperate 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 Sydney's conditions.
What vegetables can I plant now in Sydney?
It depends on the month. Going by our Sydney calendar, in spring (Sep to Nov) you can sow Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin and Sweet Corn; in summer (Dec to Feb) you can sow Zucchini, Cucumber, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Lettuce, Silverbeet and Watermelon; in autumn (Mar to May) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Spinach, Silverbeet and Kale; in winter (Jun to Aug) you can sow Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Peas, Snow Peas and Broad Beans. The What to plant in Sydney 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 Sydney?
Sydney & Coastal NSW is effectively frost free across the region. Postcode records for Sydney CBD (2000) show no frost in 2011 to 2020. Check your own postcode with the Frost Lookup.
When should I plant tomatoes in Sydney?
Our Sydney calendar has tomatoes sown or planted July to September. Sow from July to September, starting seed indoors in July and August. Transplant in September and October once frost risk has passed. More in when to plant tomatoes in Sydney.
When should I plant potatoes in Sydney?
Our Sydney calendar has potatoes sown or planted March to May and August. Plant an autumn crop from March to May and a late winter crop in August. Avoid frost and the summer heat. More in how to grow potatoes.