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Spring plantingin Australia.

What to sow in September and October, by climate zone.General guidance; local conditions vary. Published 6 September 2026.

Seedling trays and young vegetables on a bright home patio beside raised garden beds

Short answer

Greens and roots now. Tomatoes after the last frost.

In temperate and warm-temperate Australia, September is for leafy greens, roots and spring onions in the ground, with tomatoes, capsicum and eggplant started in a warm spot and planted out after the last frost, usually October or November. Subtropical gardens can plant warm-season crops straight out. Cool and highland gardens should hold warm-season seedlings until frost risk passes, often late October or November.

  1. 1

    Temperate and warm temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth)

    Soil is warming but nights are still cool. Sow lettuce, rocket, spinach, silverbeet, beetroot, carrots, radish, spring onions, coriander and peas directly. Start tomatoes, capsicum, chilli and eggplant indoors or under cover; plant out once night temperatures stay above about 10 °C. Beans, cucumber, zucchini and pumpkin go in from October in warm-temperate areas and later in temperate ones.

  2. 2

    Subtropical (Brisbane, Gold Coast, northern NSW)

    Warm-season crops can go straight out: tomatoes, capsicum, beans, cucumber, zucchini, sweet corn and basil. Move quickly with leafy greens before humidity rises and they bolt.

  3. 3

    Cool and highland (Canberra, Blue Mountains, Ballarat, Tasmania)

    Frost is still likely. Broad beans, peas, onions and hardy greens can go in; potatoes as frost risk eases. Raise tomatoes and other warm-season crops under cover and plant out in late October or November.

  4. 4

    Tropical (Darwin, Cairns)

    The dry season is closing. Favour heat-tolerant crops for the build-up: Asian leafy greens, snake beans, sweet potato, ginger and turmeric. Prepare beds and drainage ahead of the wet.

  5. 5

    Mediterranean, semi-arid and arid

    Take advantage of spring moisture before summer heat: leafy greens, roots and legumes now, with mulch and irrigation planned for anything still growing in December.

Three spring habits

Nights, not days.

Watch nights, not days. A warm afternoon does not make it tomato weather; soil and night temperature do.

Sow little and often. A short row of lettuce every two weeks beats one long row that bolts together.

Mulch as soon as seedlings are up. Spring winds dry beds faster than most people expect.

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