Autumn Vegetable Gardening in Australia
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Looking for what to plant in autumn in Australia, for example what to plant in March in Melbourne, Perth or Adelaide? This page sorts autumn crops by climate zone, not by city. For every crop across the year, see the Australian vegetable planting calendar, or go straight to March, April or May.
Autumn priorities
- Soil stays warm long after the air cools, so seed germinates fast.
- Garlic, broad beans and snow peas go in across temperate areas in April.
- April is the best month to plant tomatoes in the tropics and frost-free subtropics.
- Harvest and store pumpkins and root crops.
- Plant trees, shrubs and perennials before winter.
What grows in autumn, by climate
These crops appear in at least two of the three months for each climate, on the same two lists our month pages use.
| Climate | Where | Main crops this season |
|---|---|---|
| Temperate | Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne | Asian greens, Beetroot, Broad beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Coriander, Garlic, Kale, Lettuce, Mustard greens, Parsley, Peas |
| Subtropical | Brisbane and the warm east coast | Asian greens, Dwarf beans, Beetroot, Broad beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Coriander, Garlic, Kale, Leek, Lettuce |
| Tropical | Darwin, Cairns | Basil, Beetroot, Cucumber, Ginger, Lettuce, Mustard greens, Okra, Parsley, Peas, Pumpkin, Rockmelon, Silverbeet, Squash, Sweet corn |
| Arid | Alice Springs and the inland | Asian greens, Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Mustard greens, Parsley, Peas, Radish, Rocket |
| Cool | Hobart, Canberra, the ranges | Asian greens, Beetroot, Broad beans, Coriander, Garlic, Lettuce, Mustard greens, Parsley, Radish, Rocket, Silverbeet, Spinach, Spring onions, Turnip |
Month by month
What to plant in March
March starts autumn. Cooler weather and moist soil make it a good planting month for vegetables and new trees. Southern gardeners harvest and store summer crops. In Darwin the wet season continues, with rainfall easing.
- Plant new trees while the soil is warm and moist.
- Tidy finished crops and compost healthy material.
- Store root crops somewhere cool and dark.
What to plant in April
April soil is still warm, which makes it excellent for sowing. Garlic, broad beans and snow peas go in across temperate areas. It is the best month of the year to plant tomatoes in the tropics and frost-free subtropics.
- Plant trees, shrubs and herbs while the soil is warm.
- Harvest the last apples and pears before frost.
- Keep autumn seed beds evenly moist.
What to plant in May
May is the last month of autumn. The planting list shrinks in frost-prone areas and grows in the frost-free subtropics and tropics. It is also a good month to plant or divide perennials such as rhubarb, globe artichokes and strawberries.
- Take cuttings and divide perennials.
- Move plants while the soil is still warm.
- Collect fallen leaves for mulch and compost.
Plan the season
Sketch your beds in the free Vegetable Garden Layout Planner Tool, then print the Australian Vegetable Garden Planner. For the full year, see the Australian planting calendar. Other seasons: Spring, Summer, Winter.
Sources
- ABC Organic Gardener: What to plant in April
- ABC Organic Gardener: What to plant in May
- Deep Green Permaculture: Australian gardening calendars
- ABC Gardening Australia: Top tomato tips
Common questions
What should I plant in autumn in Adelaide and Perth?
Green Adelaide (South Australian Government) and the Waste Authority of Western Australia both list beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, dwarf beans, garlic, leek, lettuce, pak choi, peas and radish for autumn. These two guides cover Adelaide and Perth only. Check frost and soil warmth in your own garden.
Do the Adelaide and Perth guides disagree for autumn?
Yes, in places. The Waste Authority guide lists climbing beans, potatoes and zucchini, which Green Adelaide leaves for other months. Where they differ, treat the crop as possible rather than certain and check local advice.
When is the last month to plant garlic in Adelaide and Perth?
Neither state guide lists June. Green Adelaide lists garlic for March to May. The Waste Authority of Western Australia guide gives February to April and again July to September. Colder inland gardens may plant later, so check local advice.
How we checked this
On 4 November 2026 we opened two Australian state-government planting guides: Green Adelaide (South Australian Government) and the Waste Authority of Western Australia Edible School Garden Guide. They are Tier 1 checks for Adelaide and Perth only. We did not change any crop or date on this page because of them.
No state agriculture department, CSIRO, Bureau of Meteorology or university source was reachable for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin, Cairns or Alice Springs, so the lists for those places rest on ABC sources and Deep Green Permaculture, which are not Tier 1. Treat the dates as a guide and check them against your own last frost and local advice.
Added 4 November 2026: a Common questions section for autumn (March to May). They use only the two state-government guides above (Green Adelaide and the Waste Authority of Western Australia), and only where both lists were read. We show where the two guides differ and who says what. We did not add an answer for Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart, Canberra or Darwin because no state-government month table was reached for those places.
Last reviewed:
SoilCommander Editorial Team, under the direction of Nitin Sharma, Co-Founder
Summarised in our own words from the named Australian sources on this page. Your own climate and soil decide the final date.
Match The Season To The Work
Seasonal jobs come down to timing, soil care, and keeping a simple record of what needs doing next.
Keep going
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.