What Vegetables to Plant Now in New Zealand
Pick your region for a monthly planting calendar tuned to your climate. Aotearoa runs from subtropical Northland to frosty Central Otago, so the right sowing month is different wherever you garden.
Looking for what to plant now in New Zealand? The answer depends on where you garden, so the table below lists the vegetables to plant this month in each of our nine regions, straight from the same planting calendar the Planting Season app uses. Each row links to that region's full vegetable planting calendar and month page, and every region page also has a sowing chart, frost dates and a season-by-season guide. Together the nine regions make a free NZ planting calendar and NZ garden calendar for the whole year, so you can check any month, not only this one.
What to plant now: October 2026, region by region
| Region | Vegetables to sow this month | Calendars |
|---|---|---|
| Northland subtropical | 77 vegetables, including Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Snow Peas, Lettuce, Silverbeet and 65 more. | October in Northland Northland vegetable planting calendar |
| Auckland warm temperate | 77 vegetables, including Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Snow Peas, Lettuce, Silverbeet and 65 more. | October in Auckland Auckland vegetable planting calendar |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty warm temperate | 75 vegetables, including Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Snow Peas, Lettuce, Silverbeet and 63 more. | October in Waikato and Bay of Plenty Waikato and Bay of Plenty vegetable planting calendar |
| Central North Island cool temperate highland | 47 vegetables, including Snow Peas, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Kale, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Beetroot, Radish, Leek, Potato and 35 more. | October in Central North Island Central North Island vegetable planting calendar |
| Wellington & Lower North Island temperate | 60 vegetables, including Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Kale, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot and 48 more. | October in Wellington Wellington vegetable planting calendar |
| Nelson & Marlborough sunny temperate | 60 vegetables, including Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Kale, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot and 48 more. | October in Nelson and Marlborough Nelson and Marlborough vegetable planting calendar |
| Canterbury cool temperate | 47 vegetables, including Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Kale, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beetroot, Radish and 35 more. | October in Canterbury Canterbury vegetable planting calendar |
| Otago & Southland cold temperate | 51 vegetables, including Peas, Snow Peas, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Spinach, Silverbeet, Kale, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot and 39 more. | October in Otago and Southland Otago and Southland vegetable planting calendar |
| Central Otago semi-continental | 48 vegetables, including Peas, Snow Peas, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Spinach, Silverbeet, Kale, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot and 36 more. | October in Central Otago Central Otago vegetable planting calendar |
Not sure which region you are in? Find your region. For the cold months, see our guide to winter vegetables to plant in New Zealand, and compare frost dates by region.
Pick your region
Not sure which region fits? Most of New Zealand follows the temperate calendars; choose the nearest main centre. Coastal gardens are milder than inland, and frost timing is the key local variable.
Frequently asked questions
What vegetables should I plant now in New Zealand?
It depends on your region, because New Zealand runs from subtropical Northland to frosty Central Otago. The table at the top of this page lists the vegetables to sow this month in each of our nine regions and links to each region's full vegetable planting calendar.
Which vegetable planting calendar should I use?
Use the region that matches where you garden: Northland (Whangārei, Kerikeri, Kaitaia, Dargaville, Mangawhai); Auckland (Auckland, North Shore, Manukau, Waitakere, Pukekohe); Waikato & Bay of Plenty (Hamilton, Tauranga, Whakatāne, Coromandel); Central North Island (Rotorua, Taupō, Tūrangi, Taumarunui, Ohakune); Wellington & Lower North Island (Wellington, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Whanganui, Napier, Hastings, Gisborne); Nelson & Marlborough (Nelson, Richmond, Motueka, Blenheim, Picton); Canterbury (Christchurch, Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora, Kaikōura); Otago & Southland (Dunedin, Invercargill, Oamaru, Gore, Balclutha); Central Otago (Queenstown, Wānaka, Alexandra, Cromwell, Arrowtown). If you are unsure, the Find My Region tool matches your town to a region.
Why do planting times differ so much across New Zealand?
Frost sets most of the calendar. Our regional frost table lists Northland and Auckland as effectively frost free, while the average last spring frost is around 25 September in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, 10 October in Canterbury and 5 November in Central Otago. Frost-tender crops such as tomatoes go in later the further south and inland you garden, which is why each region has its own calendar.
Is there a planting calendar for New Zealand?
Yes. Each of our nine regions, from Northland to Central Otago, has its own free vegetable planting calendar with a month page for every month of the year. Together they make an NZ planting calendar and garden calendar, and the table at the top of this page shows what to plant this month in every region.