Knowing when to plant vegetables in New Zealand can make a huge difference to the success of your garden.

Plant too early and seeds may struggle in cold soil.

Plant too late and your vegetables may not have enough time to mature before the season changes.

But there’s another challenge.

New Zealand has a surprisingly varied climate.

While gardeners in Northland may already be planting warm-season vegetables, gardens in Wairarapa, inland Canterbury, Central Otago or Southland can still be dealing with frost.

That’s why we’ve created this New Zealand Vegetable Planting Calendar.

Use this guide to find out what you can plant throughout the year, then follow the individual monthly planting guides for much more detailed advice.

New Zealand Vegetable Planting Calendar by Month

Month	Main Planting Focus
January	Summer vegetables, succession sowing and maintaining productive crops
February	Late-summer vegetables and beginning the transition towards autumn
March	Autumn vegetables and cool-season crops
April	Autumn and winter vegetable planting
May	Winter vegetables, broad beans, onions and garlic
June	Hardy winter vegetables, broad beans, peas, onions and garlic
July	Winter vegetables and preparation for spring
August	Late-winter vegetables and starting selected spring seeds under protection
September	Spring vegetables and increasing seed sowing
October	Major spring planting month and warm-season vegetables where conditions are suitable
November	Warm-season vegetables and summer garden planting
December	Summer vegetables, succession sowing and maintaining productive crops

This is a broad overview.

Your exact planting time will depend on your region, frost dates, soil temperature, local weather and the vegetable variety you’re growing.

Gardening in Different New Zealand Regions

A planting calendar should never assume that every New Zealand gardener has the same conditions.

Auckland and Southland can have completely different planting opportunities in the same month.

For this reason, our monthly guides consider four broad growing situations.

Warmer Northern New Zealand

This broadly includes:

• Northland
• Auckland
• Bay of Plenty
• Warm northern coastal locations

These areas generally experience milder winters and an earlier transition into spring growing.

Warm-season vegetables may be planted earlier than in colder parts of New Zealand, provided local temperatures are suitable.

Temperate and Central New Zealand

This broadly includes:

• Manawatū-Whanganui
• Wellington
• Taranaki
• Hawke’s Bay
• Nelson
• Marlborough
• Similar temperate locations

These areas experience clear seasonal changes.

Spring planting gradually increases as frost risk declines and soil temperatures rise.

Frost-Prone Inland New Zealand

This broadly includes:

• Wairarapa
• Central Otago
• Inland Canterbury
• High-country areas
• Other frost-prone inland locations

Gardeners here need to pay particular attention to frost.

Warm sunny days don’t necessarily mean it’s safe to plant tender vegetables.

Late frosts can damage tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, courgettes and other warm-season crops.

Cooler Southern New Zealand

This broadly includes:

• Southland
• Otago
• Cooler parts of Canterbury
• Elevated southern areas

Spring planting generally starts later than in northern New Zealand.

Hardy vegetables can still grow extremely well, but warm-season planting should be based on local conditions rather than dates used by gardeners further north.

What to Plant in January in New Zealand

January is the middle of summer and the vegetable garden can be extremely productive.

Depending on your region and conditions, planting opportunities can include:

• Beans
• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Courgettes
• Cucumbers
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach
• Spring onions
• Sweetcorn

Warm areas may also continue planting vegetables such as:

• Tomatoes
• Capsicums
• Chillies
• Eggplants
• Pumpkins and squash

January is also an important month for succession sowing.

Rather than planting large quantities at once, sow smaller amounts of quick-growing vegetables regularly.

Read the Full January Guide

What to Plant in January in New Zealand

Our January guide explains what to sow, what to plant and how to keep your vegetable garden productive during the hottest part of summer.

What to Plant in February in New Zealand

February is still a summer gardening month, but it’s also the beginning of an important seasonal transition.

Depending on your region, you can continue planting summer vegetables while beginning to introduce crops for autumn.

Possible February crops include:

• Beans
• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach
• Spring onions

In suitable warm areas, summer vegetables can continue growing strongly.

At the same time, gardeners can begin thinking about:

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Other cool-season vegetables

Read the Full February Guide

What to Plant in February in New Zealand

The February guide explains how to keep summer crops productive while preparing your vegetable garden for autumn.

What to Plant in March in New Zealand

March marks the beginning of autumn.

This is when the vegetable garden starts shifting away from heat-loving crops and towards cool-season vegetables.

Depending on your region and variety, consider:

• Beetroot
• Bok choi
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Leeks
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach
• Spring onions

In warmer northern regions, some summer vegetables may continue producing well into autumn.

Read the Full March Guide

What to Plant in March in New Zealand

Our March guide covers autumn seed sowing, cool-season vegetables and the jobs that help prepare your garden for colder weather.

What to Plant in April in New Zealand

April is an excellent month for establishing cool-season vegetables.

Soil can still retain warmth from summer while cooler air temperatures favour many autumn and winter crops.

Depending on your region, April planting can include:

• Beetroot
• Bok choi
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Leeks
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Peas
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach

April is also an important month for clearing finished summer crops and improving garden soil.

Read the Full April Guide

What to Plant in April in New Zealand

The April guide covers autumn sowing, winter vegetables, regional planting differences and essential autumn garden jobs.

What to Plant in May in New Zealand

By May, conditions are noticeably cooler.

Growth begins slowing, particularly in southern and frost-prone areas.

May is a useful month for hardy vegetables.

Depending on local conditions, these can include:

• Broad beans
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Peas
• Radishes
• Silverbeet
• Spinach

May is also an important garlic planting period.

Onions can be established for later transplanting or growing depending on the variety and region.

Read the Full May Guide

What to Plant in May in New Zealand

Our May guide explains what to sow before winter really sets in, along with garlic, broad beans, onions and winter garden preparation.

What to Plant in June in New Zealand

June brings the shortest days of the year.

Vegetable growth slows considerably, but the garden doesn’t have to stop.

Depending on your region and variety, winter sowing can include:

• Broad beans
• Carrots
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Peas
• Spinach

Other possibilities in suitable regions include:

• Bok choi
• Cabbage
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spring onions

June is traditionally associated with garlic planting around the shortest day of the year, although garlic doesn’t need to be planted on one exact date.

Read the Full June Guide

What to Plant in June in New Zealand

The June guide covers winter seed sowing, garlic planting, regional differences, frost protection and keeping your garden productive through winter.

What to Plant in July in New Zealand

July is still winter, but the days begin getting longer.

This makes it an important preparation month.

Depending on your region, July planting can include:

• Beetroot
• Bok choi
• Broad beans
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Peas
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach
• Spring onions

Don’t rush warm-season vegetables outside.

Frost can still be a major risk.

Read the Full July Guide

What to Plant in July in New Zealand

Our July guide explains what to sow in late winter and how to begin preparing your vegetable garden for spring.

What to Plant in August in New Zealand

August is the transition between winter and spring.

Daylight is increasing and gardening activity begins accelerating.

Depending on your region, you can consider:

• Beetroot
• Broad beans
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Peas
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach
• Spring onions

Gardeners with suitable warm, protected growing conditions may also begin raising:

• Tomatoes
• Capsicums
• Chillies

Starting these seeds doesn’t mean they should be planted outside.

Keep warm-season seedlings protected until conditions are suitable.

Read the Full August Guide

What to Plant in August in New Zealand

The August guide covers late-winter vegetables, spring seed starting, regional planting differences and preparing your garden for spring.

What to Plant in September in New Zealand

September is the beginning of spring.

The planting possibilities increase significantly, although frost remains a concern in many areas.

Depending on your region, spring planting can include:

• Beetroot
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Peas
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach
• Spring onions

Gardeners can also continue raising warm-season vegetables such as:

• Tomatoes
• Capsicums
• Chillies

In warmer areas, outdoor planting opportunities expand earlier.

In frost-prone areas, keep tender plants protected.

Read the Full September Guide

What to Plant in September in New Zealand

Our September guide explains what to sow during the first month of spring and when to start moving towards warm-season planting.

What to Plant in October in New Zealand

October is one of the busiest months in the New Zealand vegetable gardening calendar.

Spring is well underway.

Depending on your region and frost risk, planting can include:

• Beans
• Beetroot
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Celery
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach
• Spring onions

As temperatures become suitable, warm-season vegetables can include:

• Tomatoes
• Capsicums
• Chillies
• Courgettes
• Cucumbers
• Eggplants
• Pumpkins
• Sweetcorn

Don’t use Labour Weekend as an automatic planting date.

Check your local frost risk and soil temperature.

Read the Full October Guide

What to Plant in October in New Zealand

The October guide explains when to plant warm-season vegetables and how planting differs between warmer northern and colder southern regions.

What to Plant in November in New Zealand

November is prime spring planting time across much of New Zealand.

The risk of frost has reduced in many areas and warm-season vegetables can begin growing rapidly.

Depending on your location, November planting can include:

• Beans
• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Celery
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spring onions

Warm-season crops can include:

• Tomatoes
• Capsicums
• Chillies
• Courgettes
• Cucumbers
• Eggplants
• Pumpkins and squash
• Sweetcorn

This is also an important month to start paying closer attention to watering.

Read the Full November Guide

What to Plant in November in New Zealand

Our November guide covers warm-season planting, vegetable seed sowing and preparing the garden for summer.

What to Plant in December in New Zealand

December is the beginning of summer.

Warm-season vegetables are growing rapidly and regular harvesting begins becoming an important garden job.

Depending on your region and conditions, planting opportunities include:

• Beans
• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spring onions

Warm-season planting can include:

• Tomatoes
• Capsicums
• Chillies
• Courgettes
• Cucumbers
• Eggplants
• Pumpkins
• Sweetcorn

December is also an excellent time for succession sowing.

Keep planting smaller quantities of quick-growing vegetables to extend your harvest.

Read the Full December Guide

What to Plant in December in New Zealand

Our December guide explains what to plant at the beginning of summer and how to keep your vegetable garden productive through hot weather.

Quick New Zealand Seasonal Planting Guide

Summer: December, January and February

Summer is the main season for heat-loving vegetables.

Typical summer crops include:

• Beans
• Capsicums
• Chillies
• Courgettes
• Cucumbers
• Eggplants
• Pumpkins
• Sweetcorn
• Tomatoes

Keep succession sowing vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, beetroot, radishes and spring onions where conditions suit.

Water deeply when necessary and mulch to help conserve soil moisture.

Autumn: March, April and May

Autumn is the transition towards cool-season growing.

Important crops include:

• Beetroot
• Bok choi
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Peas
• Silverbeet
• Spinach

Garlic and broad bean planting also begins during the cooler part of autumn.

Winter: June, July and August

Winter planting focuses on hardy crops.

Depending on your region, these can include:

• Broad beans
• Carrots
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Peas
• Silverbeet
• Spinach

Garlic is another important winter crop.

By August, gardeners with suitable protected growing conditions can begin raising selected spring vegetables from seed.

Spring: September, October and November

Spring is the major seed-sowing and planting season.

Early spring begins with cool-season vegetables.

As frost risk decreases and soil warms, gardeners can introduce:

• Beans
• Capsicums
• Chillies
• Courgettes
• Cucumbers
• Eggplants
• Pumpkins
• Sweetcorn
• Tomatoes

Don’t rush warm-season vegetables into cold soil.

Seed Sowing vs Planting Seedlings

This is an important distinction when using any vegetable planting calendar.

A recommendation to plant a vegetable during a particular month doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the ideal month to sow its seed directly outdoors.

Seeds need time to germinate and develop into seedlings.

Some vegetables are best direct sown.

Others can be raised in trays before being transplanted.

Vegetables Commonly Direct Sown

These include:

• Beans
• Beetroot
• Broad beans
• Carrots
• Peas
• Radishes
• Sweetcorn

Always check the instructions for the particular variety you’re growing.

Vegetables Commonly Started in Trays

These can include:

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Capsicums
• Chillies
• Eggplants
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes

Some vegetables can be grown either way.

Why Soil Temperature Matters

The calendar date isn’t the only thing that determines when seeds will grow.

Soil temperature matters.

Warm-season vegetables can struggle or fail when planted into cold soil.

These include:

• Beans
• Cucumbers
• Pumpkins
• Sweetcorn
• Tomatoes

Waiting for suitable conditions can produce better results than planting simply because a particular date has arrived.

Why Frost Dates Matter

Tender vegetables can be badly damaged or killed by frost.

These include:

• Tomatoes
• Capsicums
• Chillies
• Beans
• Cucumbers
• Courgettes
• Pumpkins
• Eggplants

This is why spring planting happens at different times around New Zealand.

If your area regularly experiences late frost, keep tender seedlings protected until the danger has passed.

Use Your Garden’s Microclimate

Even gardens within the same town can behave differently.

One property may sit on a sunny north-facing slope.

Another may be in a cold hollow where frost settles.

Your garden can be influenced by:

• Elevation
• Wind
• Slope
• Buildings
• Fences
• Sun exposure
• Nearby hills
• Coastal influence
• Frost pockets

Use planting calendars as a guide, then learn how your own garden behaves.

What Vegetables Can I Grow All Year in New Zealand?

There isn’t one vegetable that can be planted outdoors in every part of New Zealand at exactly the same time throughout the entire year.

However, vegetables such as lettuce, silverbeet, spinach, radishes and some other leafy or cool-season crops have long planting windows in suitable regions.

Choosing the right seasonal variety is important.

What Are the Easiest Vegetables to Grow From Seed?

For beginners, some of the easiest vegetables to try include:

• Beans
• Beetroot
• Broad beans
• Carrots
• Lettuce
• Peas
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Spinach
• Spring onions

Choose vegetables appropriate for the season.

What Vegetables Grow Quickly?

If you want faster results, consider:

• Radishes
• Rocket
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Some leafy greens

Actual harvest time varies according to variety, season, temperature, sunlight, soil and growing conditions.

Can I Grow Vegetables in Pots?

Yes.

You don’t need a large vegetable garden.

Many vegetables can be grown in containers, including:

• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Silverbeet
• Spinach
• Spring onions

Larger containers can also grow:

• Tomatoes
• Capsicums
• Chillies
• Peas
• Beans
• Cucumbers
• Courgettes

Choose a container appropriate for the mature size and root system of the plant.

How to Get Better Results From Vegetable Seeds

Good seeds are only part of successful vegetable growing.

Pay attention to:

• Planting time
• Soil temperature
• Sowing depth
• Moisture
• Sunlight
• Soil quality
• Spacing
• Frost
• Pests
• Variety

Always check the instructions for the particular seed you’re planting.

Don’t Sow the Whole Packet at Once

For many vegetables, succession sowing gives better results.

Instead of planting an entire packet, sow smaller quantities every few weeks.

This works particularly well for:

• Carrots
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Spinach
• Spring onions

You can then harvest over a longer period instead of having everything ready at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant vegetables in New Zealand?

Vegetables can be planted throughout the year in New Zealand, but the correct vegetables change with the season and region.

Warm-season vegetables are generally planted during spring and summer, while hardy cool-season vegetables are planted during autumn and winter.

When should I start a vegetable garden in NZ?

You can start a vegetable garden at any time of year.

The important thing is choosing vegetables suitable for your current season and local climate.

When should I plant tomatoes in NZ?

Tomatoes are warm-season vegetables.

Seeds can be started earlier under warm, protected conditions, but seedlings shouldn’t be planted outdoors until frost risk has passed and local temperatures are suitable.

Northern gardeners generally reach suitable conditions earlier than gardeners in frost-prone inland and southern regions.

When should I plant garlic in NZ?

Garlic is generally planted during the cooler months.

Planting around the shortest day in June is a well-known New Zealand gardening tradition, although garlic can be planted over a broader period depending on region and variety.

When should I plant potatoes in NZ?

Potato planting varies considerably by region.

Warmer frost-free areas can plant earlier.

In frost-prone regions, gardeners need to consider the risk of emerging potato foliage being damaged by frost.

When should I plant carrots in NZ?

Carrots have a long sowing season in many parts of New Zealand.

They should generally be sown directly into prepared soil rather than transplanted.

Check your monthly regional guide for current planting conditions.

When should I plant peas in NZ?

Peas prefer cooler conditions and are generally most useful from autumn through winter and spring, depending on region and variety.

When should I plant beans in NZ?

Broad beans are cool-season vegetables.

Most other beans prefer warmer soil and are grown during the warmer part of the year.

Don’t use broad bean planting dates for warm-season beans.

When should I plant cucumbers in NZ?

Cucumbers prefer warm growing conditions.

Plant them once frost risk has passed and soil and air temperatures are suitable.

When should I plant pumpkins in NZ?

Pumpkins are warm-season plants.

They need warm soil, plenty of sun and protection from frost.

When should I plant sweetcorn in NZ?

Sweetcorn prefers warm soil and frost-free conditions.

Planting time therefore varies between northern and southern New Zealand.

What can I plant in winter in New Zealand?

Depending on your region, winter planting can include broad beans, carrots, kale, onions, peas, silverbeet and spinach.

Garlic is another important winter crop.

What can I plant in spring in New Zealand?

Spring begins with cool-season vegetables.

As temperatures rise and frost risk passes, the range expands to tomatoes, beans, capsicums, chillies, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, sweetcorn and other warm-season vegetables.

What can I plant in autumn in New Zealand?

Autumn is ideal for introducing cool-season vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, spinach, silverbeet, peas and other winter crops.

What can I plant in summer in New Zealand?

Summer gardens can include beans, capsicums, chillies, courgettes, cucumbers, eggplants, pumpkins, sweetcorn and tomatoes, along with succession sowings of suitable salad and root crops.

Shop Vegetable Seeds in New Zealand

Once you know what to plant, the next step is choosing the seeds for your garden.

The Seedy Collection offers vegetable, herb and other seeds for New Zealand gardeners.

Use this planting calendar to decide what’s suitable for the season, then choose the seeds you want to grow.

Whether you’re starting your first vegetable garden or planting another season of favourites, growing from seed gives you the opportunity to grow more plants while choosing from a wider range of vegetables.

Save This New Zealand Vegetable Planting Calendar

Gardening changes throughout the year.

Bookmark this page and return each month to see what you can plant next.

Use our detailed monthly guides for:

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Remember that a planting calendar is a guide rather than a guarantee.

Check your local weather, frost risk, soil conditions and the instructions for the particular seed variety you’re growing.

Then get planting.

There’s something to grow in a New Zealand vegetable garden almost every month of the year.