Seasons and planting calendars

Australia is a large continent with many climates. To make planting advice easier to follow, ABC Gardening Australia’s Vegie Guide groups the country into five climate zones.

The guide asks you to select the zone that fits where you live. It leaves that choice to you, so if you are unsure, experienced local gardeners can help.

In Australia, summer runs from December to February, autumn from March to May, winter from June to August and spring from September to November. Plants respond to changes in warmth, rain and daylight across the year.

Some plants grow best in the warm months and others in the cool months. Frost, heat and dry spells also shape the growing year. Many First Nations communities read the seasons through local signs, such as plants flowering, and some recognise more than four seasons.

A planting calendar suggests what to sow or plant at different times of year. In ABC Gardening Australia’s Vegie Guide, you first choose your climate zone, then choose a month to see planting suggestions for that zone.

A calendar is a guide, not a rule. One garden may be warmer, cooler, windier or shadier than others nearby, and seasons vary from year to year. Notes on what grew well help you read the calendar for your own space.

A simple year plan is a table with the twelve months across the top. Under each month, note what you might plant, what might be ready to pick and which areas will rest. A planting guide for your zone can help you fill it in.

Add other seasonal jobs too, such as preparing beds or saving seed, and leave space for notes on the weather and results. Over a few years, these notes become your own local guide.