What vegetables to plant now depends on your city and the month, and in Sydney in October (spring) you can sow or plant tomatoes, capsicum, zucchini, cucumber, beans, sweet corn, lettuce, beetroot and basil. The biggest mistake is planting frost-tender crops too early in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, where late cold snaps still burn seedlings.
This guide gives a Sydney planting calendar for every season, plans for Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth, and tips on herbs, fruit trees and pots.
Key points
- In Sydney, spring (September to November) is the main season for warm-season crops such as tomatoes, beans, zucchini, cucumber and sweet corn.
- You need good soil, regular water within the Water Wise Guidelines and seedlings or seed matched to the month, so check the packet for each crop.
- Safety and legal checks: use only registered products, follow the label, and check your council’s tree rules before you prune or remove large trees.
- A Sydney gardener typically charges about $52 to $115 per hour, and tree pruning typically costs about $520 per tree (October 2026).
When to plant vegetables in Sydney: what vegetables to plant now by season
| Season | What to plant | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (September to November) | Tomatoes, capsicum, chilli, eggplant, zucchini, cucumber, beans, sweet corn, pumpkin, basil, lettuce, beetroot, carrots, spring onions | Soil is warming and frost risk drops, though western suburbs and the Blue Mountains can still see late cold nights |
| Summer (December to February) | Beans, cucumber, zucchini, sweet corn, pumpkin, basil, lettuce in part shade | Heat drives fast growth, but young plants need shade and deep watering |
| Autumn (March to May) | Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, silverbeet, carrots, beetroot, radish, lettuce, spinach, peas, broad beans, garlic | Cooling soil suits leafy and root crops, and it is the best time for winter vegetables |
| Winter (June to August) | Broad beans, peas, spinach, onions, garlic, lettuce, silverbeet and early potatoes in mild areas | Cool-season crops grow slowly but steadily, and frost-prone areas need cloches or fabric covers |
What you need to start planting vegetables
| Item | What it is for | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Quality garden soil or raised-bed mix | Gives roots drainage and nutrients | Improve heavy western Sydney clay with compost and gypsum rather than planting straight into it |
| Seedlings or seed packets | The crop itself | Buy from Bunnings, Yates, Mr Fothergill’s or a local nursery and read the sowing window on the label |
| Compost and a registered organic fertiliser | Feeds plants through the season | Follow the label for any fertiliser, and keep pets and children away until it says it is safe |
| Mulch | Holds moisture and suppresses weeds | Use sugar cane or pea straw, kept clear of stems |
| Hose with a trigger nozzle or drip line | Waters plants efficiently | Water before 10 am or after 4 pm, and use a trigger nozzle on hand-held hoses |
| Trellis, stakes and ties | Support for tomatoes, beans and cucumbers | Put them in before planting so you do not damage roots later |
What vegetables to plant now: step by step
- Check the month and your local frost risk. Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains plant tender crops later than the coast.
- Choose a sunny spot with good drainage, because most vegetables need plenty of direct sun each day (indicative — check the seed packet or plant label).
- Dig in compost and loosen the soil so roots can spread, and remove weeds and old roots.
- Read the packet for sowing depth and spacing, and mark rows or squares so you know where seed has gone (indicative — check the seed packet or plant label).
- Plant seedlings late in the day or on a cloudy day to reduce transplant shock, and firm the soil around the roots.
- Water in gently with a hand-held hose and trigger nozzle, within the Water Wise watering times.
- Add mulch around plants, keeping it back from stems so they do not rot.
- Feed with a product registered for vegetables and follow the label for rate and timing.
- Check weekly for snails, caterpillars and fungal spots. For serious insect problems, book a licensed pest controller.
What veggies to plant now for beginners
If you are starting from scratch, begin with easy crops that forgive mistakes. Our guide on how to start a vegetable garden covers bed layout and soil in more detail.
- Lettuce and rocket sprout quickly and can be picked leaf by leaf, which keeps beginners motivated.
- Zucchini grows vigorously in spring, and one or two plants feed most households.
- Beans, either dwarf or climbing, are reliable, and climbing types need a trellis.
- Cherry tomatoes are forgiving, and our growing tomatoes in Australia guide shows how to stake, feed and water them.
- Radishes and spring onions are quick, so you see results within weeks.
- Use companion planting to pair basil with tomatoes and marigolds with beans, which can help keep beds productive.
What to plant now in Sydney: vegetable planting calendar
Sydney has a long growing season, and a calendar helps you keep beds full. These crops suit the warm temperate climate of the coast and plains.
- September: sow beans, sweet corn and pumpkin seed once frost risk has passed, and plant out early tomato seedlings under cover.
- October: plant tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant, chilli, cucumber and zucchini seedlings, and sow lettuce, beetroot and carrots.
- November: sow more beans and sweet corn, plant basil and keep lettuce in part shade as temperatures rise.
- December and January: sow succession beans and cucumber, and keep watering deeply in the early morning.
- February: start sowing autumn crops such as broccoli and cabbage seedlings in a sheltered spot.
- March and April: plant brassicas, carrots, peas and spinach, and prepare beds for garlic.
Vegetables to plant now in Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth
Seasons run the same way across Australia, but climate decides the timing. Wait for soil to warm in cooler cities.
| City | Climate | What to plant in spring |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | Mediterranean, hot dry summers and mild wet winters | Tomatoes, capsicum, zucchini and basil from mid spring, plus lettuce and beetroot; use mulch and deep watering for the dry summer |
| Melbourne | Cool temperate, variable weather and late frosts | Peas, lettuce, spinach and beetroot early, with tomatoes and beans once frost risk has passed |
| Perth | Mediterranean, sandy soils and hot dry summers | Beans, tomatoes, cucumber and zucchini; add compost to sandy soil and water regularly |
| Sydney | Warm temperate and humid | Tomatoes, capsicum, zucchini, beans, sweet corn and basil from September, with frost care inland |
- For what to plant now in Adelaide, wait until soil warms for tomatoes, and start with leafy crops in cooler weeks.
- For what veggies to plant now in Melbourne, start with peas, lettuce and spinach, and wait for tomatoes until frost risk has passed.
- For vegetable planting guide Perth searches, plant beans and cucumbers in spring as soils warm.
- When to plant beans in Perth: sow beans in warm soil after the last frost, which is usually from spring.
- For a planting guide Adelaide gardeners can trust, check your local council or a nursery for frost dates.
- Always confirm local frost dates with a nursery, since microclimates vary even within a city.
Winter planting vegetables
Winter planting vegetables suit cool-season crops that handle frost and slower light, particularly in Sydney’s western suburbs.
- Plant broad beans, peas and spinach in autumn and early winter, and provide a trellis for peas.
- Sow broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage in autumn and protect seedlings from caterpillars and snails.
- Plant garlic in cool weather for harvest in the following warm season.
- Cover seedlings with frost cloth on cold nights in Penrith, the Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains.
- Water less in winter, and avoid wetting leaves late in the day to reduce fungal disease.
- Prune winter-dormant fruit trees and vines only after checking the right timing for each species.
Herbs to plant now
Herbs thrive in pots and borders, and many are harvestable within weeks. See our guides to how to grow basil and how to propagate rosemary for step-by-step help.
- Plant basil in spring after the last frost, in a sunny spot with regular water.
- Plant parsley, coriander and chives in cooler months, because coriander bolts quickly in heat.
- Keep rosemary, thyme and oregano in free-draining soil, and avoid overwatering.
- Grow mint in a pot, since it spreads fast through garden beds.
- Pick herbs regularly to keep them bushy, and take only what you will use.
- Positively identify any herb before eating it, and never eat plants you are unsure about. Pets can react to chives, onions and garlic, so contact your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline if your pet eats them.
Fruit trees, vines and berries to plant now
Spring is a good time to plant container-grown fruit trees, because roots establish before summer heat. Citrus is a favourite in Sydney backyards.
- Choose a sunny, sheltered spot for citrus trees, and read about a Eureka lemon or a dwarf lime tree for small yards.
- Learn when to prune lemon trees before you reach for the secateurs.
- Plant strawberries in pots or raised beds, and net them against birds.
- Try blueberries and raspberry plants in acidic, well-mulched soil.
- Train passionfruit and a climbing fig on a sturdy trellis in a warm spot.
- Consider a real olive tree and learn how to prune an olive tree, or experiment with avocado from seed, though seed-grown trees can take years to fruit.
Flowers and companions to plant with vegetables
Flowers bring pollinators into the vegetable patch and make beds look good.
- Sow sunflowers in spring along fences to attract bees.
- Plant a ginger flower in a warm, humid corner for tropical colour.
- Edge beds with marigolds and nasturtiums to bring in pollinators.
- Leave a small bare patch or water dish for bees and other beneficial insects.
- Avoid spraying when flowers are open, because registered products can harm bees; always read the label.
- Rotate crop families each season to reduce soil-borne disease.
Common mistakes when deciding what vegetables to plant now
- Planting tomatoes and basil too early, so cold nights stunt or kill them.
- Planting in shade, which leads to leggy plants and poor yields.
- Overwatering clay soils, which causes root rot, or underwatering sandy soils, which dry out fast.
- Planting everything at once, so you get a glut and then nothing; sow small batches every few weeks.
- Skipping mulch, which means more weeding and more watering.
- Using chemicals off-label or mixing products, which risks plants, pets and waterways.
When to call a gardener or licensed specialist
- You have large trees that need pruning or removal, which is a job for a qualified arborist and may need council approval first.
- Branches are near power lines or above head height, where only qualified arborists should work.
- You need paid weed spraying, because anyone spraying for fee or reward in NSW needs an EPA ground applicator licence.
- Pests such as caterpillars, scale or fruit fly keep returning, and you want to book a licensed pest controller.
- Irrigation connected to the mains needs repairs or backflow work, which needs a licensed plumber.
- You want someone to dig beds, build raised planters or haul away green waste on a regular schedule.
Cost of help with a vegetable garden in Sydney
| Job | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardener, per hour | $52 | $75 | $115 |
| Weed removal (per hour) | $57 | $75 | $105 |
| Garden clean-up, half day | $170 | $290 | $460 |
| Garden clean-up, full day | $320 | $520 | $805 |
| Tree pruning or trimming (per tree) | $230 | $520 | $1,375 |
| Fortnightly maintenance plan, medium lawn (per visit) | $60 | $75 | $120 |
- Prices include GST and reflect Sydney metro rates for October 2026.
FAQ: what vegetables to plant now
What vegetables to plant now in Sydney?
In October, plant tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant, zucchini, cucumber, beans, sweet corn, basil, lettuce and beetroot in Sydney. Inland suburbs and the Blue Mountains should protect tender seedlings from late frosts. Check the label for sowing depth and spacing.
What veggies to plant now for winter?
For winter, plant broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, peas, broad beans, spinach, onions and garlic in autumn or early winter. Choose a sunny spot, protect seedlings from frost where needed, and water less often so soil does not stay soggy.
What to plant now in Adelaide?
In spring, Adelaide gardeners can start tomatoes, capsicum, zucchini, beans and basil once soil warms, plus lettuce and beetroot. Mulch well and water deeply for the dry summer. Check local frost dates with a nursery before planting tender crops.
What veggies to plant now in Melbourne?
Melbourne’s cool spring suits peas, lettuce, spinach and beetroot first. Wait until frost risk has passed before planting tomatoes, beans and zucchini. Use frost cloth for late cold snaps and ask your local nursery for the best planting dates.
When to plant beans in Perth?
In Perth, sow beans in spring once soil has warmed and frost risk has passed. Add compost to sandy soil, mulch well and water regularly. Dwarf and climbing beans both do well, so choose according to the space you have.
What veg to plant now in pots?
Herbs, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, chillies and compact beans grow well in pots. Use premium potting mix, choose containers with drainage holes and keep them in a sunny spot. Water often within the Water Wise watering times.
Getting your vegetable garden started in Sydney
If you’d rather have the beds prepared, the hedges trimmed and the green waste taken away, we handle garden maintenance, pruning and clean-ups across Sydney. Book pruning and garden help in Sydney and get an itemised quote.
