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Planting calendar — New Zealand — sub-tropical

Frost risk: May-September (approximate — frost timing varies year to year)

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Plant Sow Transplant Harvest Method Notes
Basil Jul–Dec Sep–Feb Nov–May Direct sow / Raise in trays Frost-tender - start indoors, transplant after last frost. Pinch flowers to extend harvest.
Beans (Climbing) Sep–Dec — Dec–Mar Direct sow Direct sow after last frost risk has passed. Needs a support structure. ~90 days to harvest.
Beetroot Aug–May — Oct–Jul Direct sow Direct sow, thin to 10cm apart. Frost-tolerant.
Broad Beans Aug–Oct — Dec–Feb Direct sow Direct sow in autumn. Pinch tops when flowering to deter aphids.
Broccoli Aug–Nov Sep–Dec Dec–Mar Raise in trays Raise in trays, transplant at 4-6 weeks. Net against white butterfly. Egmont also lists a second Feb-May sowing not modelled here.
Brussels Sprouts Sep–Oct Oct–Nov Jan–Feb Raise in trays Raise in trays, transplant at 4-6 weeks. Net against white butterfly. Egmont also lists a second Jan-Apr sowing not modelled here.
Capsicum Jun–Sep Aug–Oct Dec–May Raise in trays Start indoors Jun-Sep (propagator or glasshouse recommended for germination), transplant after last frost. Crops through to first autumn frost.
Carrot Sep–May — Dec–Aug Direct sow Direct sow only - don't transplant. Keep soil moist until germination.
Coriander Jul–Nov — Sep–Jan Direct sow Sow in cooler months to prevent bolting. Succession sow. Egmont also lists a second Mar-Apr sowing not modelled here.
Courgette Sep–Dec — Nov–May Direct sow / Raise in trays Sow after last frost. Grow at least two plants for better pollination. Space 1m apart.
Cucumber Aug–Nov Sep–Dec Nov–Feb Raise in trays Start seeds in trays about a month before last frost. Plant out after last frost risk has passed. ~60-80 days to harvest from transplant.
Eggplant Jun–Sep Aug–Oct Nov–May Raise in trays Start indoors Jun-Sep, transplant after last frost. Needs a longer warm season than Capsicum/Tomato to fruit well. Crops through to first autumn frost.
Feijoa Sep–Nov Sep–Nov Mar–Jul Direct sow Plant as potted nursery stock, not grown from seed. Spring planting used here for frost safety in cooler zones - Tui NZ also lists autumn as viable in frost-free areas. Fruit falls naturally when ripe, autumn to early winter.
Garlic Mar–Apr — Oct–Nov Direct sow Plant individual cloves 5cm deep, 15cm apart. Plant earliest of the three zones — mild winters mean less cold-chilling benefit, so an early autumn start reduces rust risk. ~7 months to harvest.
Jerusalem Artichoke Sep–Oct — May–Aug Direct sow Plant tubers direct into soil once it warms past ~15-16C, after the last spring frost. Dig once frost kills the top growth - can be left in the ground and dug as needed right through winter; cold weather improves tuber colour, so there's no rush to lift them all at once.
Kale Aug–Oct Sep–Nov Nov–Jan Direct sow / Raise in trays Very hardy, improves after frost. Egmont also lists a second Feb-May sowing not modelled here.
Lemon Apr–Sep Apr–Sep Jun–Nov Direct sow Plant as potted nursery stock, not grown from seed. Late autumn to early spring planting window; avoid midwinter planting in frosty areas. Harvest window reflects the dominant winter-to-spring main crop pattern (Meyer, Yen Ben, Lisbon) - some varieties (e.g. Genoa) crop earlier, see Cultivar notes.
Lettuce Sep–Mar — Nov–May Direct sow / Raise in trays Succession sow every 2-3 weeks. Shade cloth in summer to prevent bolting.
Lime Sep–Nov Sep–Nov Jun–Aug Direct sow Plant as potted nursery stock, not grown from seed. Yates NZ recommends spring planting once soil has warmed for cold climates (used here) or autumn in warmer areas. Harvest window is for Tahitian/Bearss, the common NZ varieties - Key limes ripen earlier (around April), see Cultivar notes.
Mandarin Apr–Sep Apr–Sep May–Sep Direct sow Plant as potted nursery stock, not grown from seed. Same general citrus planting window as Lemon/Orange/Lime. Harvest window reflects early-to-mid-season Satsuma types, NZ's major export mandarin group and among the most cold-hardy common citrus - later cultivars (Encore) extend into autumn, see Cultivar notes.
Mizuna Aug–Dec — Sep–Jan Direct sow Direct sow. Quick-growing cut-and-come-again green - succession sow every 2-3 weeks. Egmont also lists a second Feb-Mar sowing not modelled here.
Mustard Greens Sep–Oct Oct–Nov Nov–Dec Raise in trays Raise in trays, transplant when 6-8cm high. Koanga also lists a second Jan-Mar (late summer/autumn) sowing not modelled here. Can alternatively be direct sown for a quicker baby-leaf/mesclun harvest.
Onion Jul–Sep — Jan–Mar Direct sow Direct sow. Long-season crop (~160-200 days) - avoid high-nitrogen soil, which delays bulbing. Egmont also lists a second Mar-May sowing not modelled here.
Orange Apr–Sep Apr–Sep Jul–Nov Direct sow Plant as potted nursery stock, not grown from seed. Same general citrus planting window as Lemon/Mandarin/Lime. Harvest window reflects Navel oranges (NZ's major commercial type, mid-July to November) - some strains hang later into summer, see Cultivar notes.
Pak Choy Aug–May — Sep–Jun Direct sow Direct sow. Cut-and-come-again Asian green, tolerant of an unusually wide sowing season. Can bolt in extended hot spells - part-shade in summer.
Passionfruit Sep–Nov Oct–Jan Jan–May Raise in trays Sow/raise in trays, plant out mid-spring to mid-summer once frost risk has passed - protect young plants from any frost. Established vines ripen fruit mid-summer to autumn. No genuine outdoor growing window in NZ temperate or cool/mountain - only the warmest, most sheltered sites elsewhere in NZ can grow this crop at all.
Peas Sep–Feb — Dec–May Direct sow Direct sow. Fix nitrogen in soil.
Pumpkin Sep–Nov — Jan–Apr Direct sow Direct sow once soil has warmed and frost risk has passed. Needs plenty of space to sprawl. ~100-160 days to harvest — a long-season crop.
Radish Aug–Apr — Oct–Jun Direct sow Direct sow, thin to avoid overcrowding. Very quick-growing - succession sow every 2 weeks.
Shallot Aug–Sep — Jan–Feb Direct sow Plant individual bulbs 5cm deep, 15cm apart. Long maturity (~180 days) - similar timing to Garlic.
Silverbeet Aug–May — Oct–Jul Direct sow / Raise in trays Hardy leafy green. Pick outer leaves for continuous harvest.
Spinach Sep–Feb — Nov–Apr Direct sow / Raise in trays Bolts in heat rather than being frost-sensitive. Succession sow for continuous harvest. ~50-70 days to harvest.
Tamarillo Oct–Dec Sep–Nov Apr–Nov Raise in trays Sow/raise in trays, plant out in spring once frost risk has passed. Takes about 2 years to first fruit; established trees ripen fruit April-November. No genuine outdoor growing window in NZ temperate or cool/mountain - frost damages or kills this crop outside sub-tropical conditions.
Tomato Jun–Sep Aug–Oct Oct–May Raise in trays Start indoors Jun-Sep, transplant after last frost. Crops through to first autumn frost.
Turnip Aug–Oct — Sep–Nov Direct sow Direct sow, thin to 10cm apart. Classic spring crop - dislikes summer heat (bolts/turns woody). Kings Seeds also lists a second Mar-May sowing not modelled here.
Yacon Sep–Oct — Apr–Jul Direct sow Plant tuber/crown divisions ~40cm apart in prepared, compost-enriched soil after the last spring frost. This zone's late, mild first autumn frost means tubers don't need to be rushed out of the ground - Koanga's own guidance is that mild, drier areas can leave them in over winter.