Every vegetable has a range of sowing, planting and harvesting times that suit it best.
This guide will give a full list of possible vegetables to grow, and when you should plant them.
What vegetables can you plant right now?
Below, we’ve included four tables (one for each season) that show which vegetables are suitable for planting in each month of the year.
Vegetables to plant in Spring
| September | October | November |
| Artichokes | Artichokes | Artichokes |
| Asparagus | Asparagus | Asparagus |
| Basil | Basil | Basil |
| Beans | Beans | Beans |
| Beetroot | Beetroot | Beetroot |
| Broccoli | Broccoli | Broccoli |
| Cabbage | Cabbage | Cabbage |
| Capsicum | Capsicum | Capsicum |
| Carrot | Carrot | Carrot |
| Celeriac | Celeriac | Celeriac |
| Celery | Celery | Celery |
| Chilli | Chilli | Chilli |
| Chives | Chives | Chives |
| Coriander | Coriander | Coriander |
| Corn | Corn | Corn |
| Cucumber | Cucumber | Cucumber |
| Dill | Dill | Eggplant |
| Eggplant | Eggplant | Horseradish |
| Fennel | Fennel | Leeks |
| Horseradish | Horseradish | Lettuce |
| Leeks | Leeks | Marrow |
| Lettuce | Lettuce | Mint |
| Marrow | Marrow | Mustard greens |
| Mint | Mint | Okra |
| Mustard greens | Mustard greens | Oregano |
| Oregano | Okra | Parsley |
| Parsley | Oregano | Pumpkin |
| Parsnip | Parsley | Radish |
| Peas | Parsnip | Rocket |
| Potato | Potato | Rosemary |
| Pumpkin | Pumpkin | Sage |
| Radish | Radish | Silverbeet (Chard) |
| Rhubarb | Rhubarb | Spring onions |
| Rocket | Rocket | Squash |
| Sage | Rosemary | Thyme |
| Silverbeet (Chard) | Sage | Tomato |
| Snow Peas | Silverbeet (Chard) | Turnip |
| Spring onions | Spring onions | Yam |
| Squash | Thyme | Zucchini |
| Tomato | Tomato | |
| Turnip | Turnip | |
| Zucchini | Yam | |
| Zucchini |
Vegetables to plant in Summer
| December | January | February |
| Asparagus | Asparagus | Beans |
| Basil | Beans | Beetroot |
| Beans | Beetroot | Broccoli |
| Beetroot | Carrot | Brussels sprouts |
| Capsicum | Chives | Carrot |
| Carrot | Corn | Cauliflower |
| Celeriac | Cucumber | Chives |
| Celery | Eggplant | Cucumber |
| Chilli | Lettuce | Fennel |
| Chives | Marrow | Leeks |
| Corn | Mustard greens | Lettuce |
| Cucumber | Okra | Mustard greens |
| Eggplant | Oregano | Onion |
| Leeks | Parsley | Oregano |
| Lettuce | Radish | Parsley |
| Marrow | Silverbeet (Chard) | Radish |
| Mustard greens | Sunflower | Silverbeet (Chard) |
| Okra | Swedes | Swedes |
| Oregano | Turnip | |
| Parsley | Zucchini | |
| Pumpkin | ||
| Radish | ||
| Sage | ||
| Silverbeet (Chard) | ||
| Squash | ||
| Tomato | ||
| Turnip | ||
| Zucchini |
Vegetables to plant in Autumn
| March | April | May |
| Beetroot | Beetroot | Broad Beans |
| Broad Beans | Broad Beans | Brussels sprouts |
| Broccoli | Broccoli | Cabbage |
| Brussels sprouts | Brussels sprouts | Carrot |
| Cabbage | Cabbage | Cauliflower |
| Carrot | Carrot | Chives |
| Chives | Cauliflower | Fennel |
| Coriander | Chives | Garlic |
| Fennel | Fennel | Kale |
| Kale | Garlic | Kohlrabi |
| Leeks | Kale | Leeks |
| Lettuce | Leeks | Lettuce |
| Mustard greens | Lettuce | Mustard greens |
| Oregano | Mustard greens | Onion |
| Pak Choy | Onion | Oregano |
| Parsley | Oregano | Pak Choy |
| Radish | Pak Choy | Parsley |
| Rocket | Parsley | Peas |
| Shallots | Peas | Radish |
| Silverbeet (Chard) | Radish | Rocket |
| Spinach | Rocket | Shallots |
| Swedes | Shallots | Silverbeet (Chard) |
| Turnip | Silverbeet (Chard) | Snow Peas |
| Snow Peas | Spinach | |
| Spinach | Turnip | |
| Swedes | ||
| Turnip |
Vegetables to plant in Winter
| June | July | August |
| Broad Beans | Beetroot | Artichokes |
| Cabbage | Lettuce | Asparagus |
| Garlic | Mustard greens | Beetroot |
| Kale | Onion | Cabbage |
| Lettuce | Peas | Capsicum |
| Mustard greens | Radish | Chilli |
| Onion | Snow Peas | Eggplant |
| Peas | Kohlrabi | |
| Radish | Leeks | |
| Snow Peas | Lettuce | |
| Mint | ||
| Mustard greens | ||
| Onion | ||
| Parsnip | ||
| Peas | ||
| Potato | ||
| Radish | ||
| Rocket | ||
| Silverbeet (Chard) | ||
| Snow Peas | ||
| Spring onions | ||
| Thyme |
Keep in mind that this is based on a temperate climate zone, which includes Sydney and coastal NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, and most of South Australia.
Things to think about when choosing what vegetables to plant
With so many delicious varieties to choose from, where do you even start?
Here are a few things to ask yourself before heading off to Bunnings or your local plant shop to buy some seeds or seedlings:
- What vegetables are in season?
- How much space do I have?
- What vegetables do I want to eat?
- Can I grow vegetables all year round?
- What vegetables are easy to grow?
Seasons in Australia
Summer, autumn, winter and spring are all suitable for growing different types of vegetables.
The difference between the seasons is more pronounced in the southern states of Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.
As you travel north, the seasons become less defined.
The temperate zone of Australia
Most of Australia lives in a temperate climate, including the capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, and Perth.
Brisbane has a subtropical climate.
It is important to know the climate of where you live because not all climates are suitable for growing certain vegetables.
Your local climate will determine what vegetables you can grow and when.
In general, a temperate climate is a place with moderate amounts of rainfall spread across the year, mild to warm summers, and cool to cold winters.
RELATED: When to Plant Tomatoes in Perth
Queensland’s subtropical humid climate
Queensland has a more humid climate than other parts of Australia.
This makes it ideal for plants that prefer moist, warm soil and air.
As a result, many tropical fruits and vegetables flourish in Queensland, including papaya, passionfruit, mangoes, corn and peanuts.
In addition to its higher humidity levels, Queensland also has a longer growing season than the rest of Australia.
This is because it experiences less extreme temperatures throughout the year.
During the summer months (November-March), average temperatures range from 23C to 31C, while winters are mild with average temperatures ranging from 8C to 18C. Because it’s so warm during winter in Queensland, many people find their gardens produce fruits and vegetables all year round.
Another advantage Queensland has over other Australian states is its high rainfall levels.
In coastal areas of northern Queensland such as Cairns, rain falls nearly every day during the summer months which makes irrigation unnecessary for most plants.
However, if you live further inland or wish to grow certain crops such as flowers or herbs then it’s best if you do not rely on rainfall alone for watering your garden.
