Central Otago and Queenstown Vegetable Planting Calendar: What to Plant Now
Semi-continental calendar for Central Otago. 164 plants with monthly sow windows calibrated for local conditions.
This is our Central Otago vegetable planting calendar, covering Queenstown, Wānaka, Alexandra, Cromwell and Arrowtown. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in Central Otago, then goes through the whole year, with sowing windows set for the semi-continental climate of Central Otago and the Queenstown Lakes. Further down you will find a sowing chart for popular vegetables, local timing notes, frost dates and a season-by-season guide, all from the same data that runs the Planting Season app. This is New Zealand's most continental climate, with hot dry summers and hard frosts that can strike in any month, so warm crops need protection at each end of a short season.
Monthly Planting Calendar
Central Otago has New Zealand's most continental climate: hot dry summers and cold winters with hard frosts that can strike in any month. The season is short but the summer heat is real, so warm crops can succeed in the brief frost-free window with protection at each end. Hardy crops, careful timing around frost, and irrigation for the dry summers are the keys here.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for Central Otago
Every vegetable in our Central Otago calendar, grouped by the month you can sow or plant it. Each month links to its full page with herbs, fruit, spacing, harvest times and companions.
| Month | Vegetables to sow or plant | Count |
|---|---|---|
| January | Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Chicory, Collards, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mizuna, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Sorrel, Spring Onion, Swede, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 28 |
| February | Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Radicchio, Radish, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 34 |
| March | Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Endive, Florence Fennel, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Radish, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Silverbeet, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 29 |
| April | Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Endive, Garlic, Mizuna, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Swede | 11 |
| May | Broad Beans, Garlic, Shallot | 3 |
| June | Garlic, Shallot | 2 |
| July | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| August | Broad Beans, Cabbage, Onion, Spinach, Swede | 5 |
| September | Asparagus, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Chicory, Collards, Endive, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Mizuna, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Turnip, Watercress | 35 |
| October | Asparagus, Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 48 |
| November | Amaranth, Asparagus, Beetroot, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrot, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Parsnip, Peas, Pigface (Horokaka), Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scarlet Runner Bean, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spring Onion, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 41 |
| December | Amaranth, Beans (bush), Beetroot, Brazilian Spinach, Broccoli, Broccolini, Capsicum, Carrot, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Kang Kong, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach (Warrigal), Parsnip, Pigface (Horokaka), Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rockmelon, Salsify, Scarlet Runner Bean, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Sorrel, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Tomatillo, Tomato, Watercress, Watermelon, Wombok, Zucchini | 49 |
Central Otago vegetable sowing chart
33 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in Central Otago. Shaded months are open sowing windows, and the last column spells them out. Seed started in trays or under cover counts as a sowing where our data says so.
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Sow or plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Capsicum | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Chilli | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Courgette (zucchini) | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Peas | Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Broad Beans | Apr to May and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | Oct to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | Feb to Mar and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Silverbeet | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Kale | Jan to Mar and Sep to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Bok Choy | Feb to Apr and Sep to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | Sep to Apr | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | Jan to Mar and Aug to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | Jan to Mar and Sep to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Beetroot | Oct to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Radish | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Onion | Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Apr to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Leek | Sep to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Potato | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Kūmara (sweet potato) | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Basil | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Coriander | Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | Sep to May | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | Dec |
Local timing notes for Central Otago
Where timing in Central Otago differs from the baseline calendar, our data carries a local note. These are the same notes the app and the plant pages show for this region, and they explain the shape of the chart above.
- Peas (Sep to Nov): Sow Sep to Nov so the crop is picked before the midsummer heat.
- Snow Peas (Sep to Nov): Sow Sep to Nov so the crop is picked before the midsummer heat.
- Broad Beans (Apr to May and Aug to Oct): Spring sowings from August are the safer bet. Autumn sown plants need to be small and sturdy going into winter.
- Lettuce (Oct to Feb): Start spring sowings in Oct under a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run into early November. Make the last sowing in Feb so the crop is ready before winter growth stops.
- Spinach (Feb to Mar and Aug to Oct): Sow Aug to Oct and Feb to Mar. It bolts in the summer heat and the soil is frozen in midwinter.
- Silverbeet (Sep to Mar): Start spring sowings in Sep; the soil is too cold before then. Make the last sowing in Mar so the crop is ready before winter growth stops.
- Kale (Jan to Mar and Sep to Oct): Sow Sep to Oct and Jan to Mar. Cover early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to early November. Get the last sowing in by Mar so it sizes up before winter growth stops.
- Bok Choy (Feb to Apr and Sep to Oct): Sow Sep to Oct and Feb to Apr. Cover early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to early November. Get the last sowing in by Apr so it sizes up before winter growth stops.
- Broccoli (Sep to Apr): Sow Sep to Apr. Cover early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to early November. Get the last sowing in by Apr so it sizes up before winter growth stops.
- Cauliflower (Jan to Mar and Sep to Oct): Sow Sep to Oct and Jan to Mar. Cover early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to early November. Get the last sowing in by Mar so it sizes up before winter growth stops.
- Carrot (Oct to Jan): Start spring sowings in Oct under a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run into early November. Make the last sowing in Jan so the crop is ready before winter growth stops.
- Beetroot (Oct to Feb): Start spring sowings in Oct under a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run into early November. Make the last sowing in Feb so the crop is ready before winter growth stops.
- Radish (Sep to Mar): Start spring sowings in Sep; the soil is too cold before then. Make the last sowing in Mar so the crop is ready before winter growth stops.
- Onion (Aug to Oct): Sow in spring. Autumn sown onions often bolt or die after a hard winter here.
- Garlic (Apr to Jun): Plant Apr to Jun before the ground freezes hard. Garlic needs the winter chill and is fully hardy.
- Leek (Sep to Dec): Start spring sowings in Sep; the soil is too cold before then. Keep sowing through Nov to Dec with steady watering. Skip autumn sowings; growth stops before they are ready.
- Potato (Oct to Jan): Plant from Oct and earth up or cover the shoots, as frosts run into early November. Keep planting through Nov to Jan with steady watering.
- Coriander (Oct to Nov): Start spring sowings in Oct under a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run into early November. Keep sowing through Nov with steady watering. Skip autumn sowings; growth stops before they are ready.
- Parsley (Sep to May): Sow Sep to May. Cover early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to early November. Get the last sowing in by May so it sizes up before winter growth stops.
- Strawberry (Sep to Nov): Plant in spring. Autumn planted crowns heave out of frozen ground over winter.
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Frost dates and climate in Central Otago
Central Otago has a semi-continental climate. Across the region the average last spring frost falls around 5 November and the first autumn frost around 25 March, which leaves a growing season of about 140 days for frost-tender crops such as tomatoes, beans, pumpkins and basil. Those are regional midpoints: a frost pocket, a slope or a warm wall can shift your own dates by weeks.
Hard frosts can strike in any month. The season is short but the summer heat is real, so warm crops can succeed in the brief frost-free window with protection at each end, and the dry summers need irrigation.
Our Central Otago calendar already allows for this: frost-tender crops start later than hardy ones, with tomatoes from December and basil from December. The frost dates by region page compares all nine regions, and the free app gives a local forecast with frost alerts.
Central Otago planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the Central Otago sowing windows, so they change only when our data changes.
Spring in Central Otago (September to November)
53 vegetables can be sown at some point in spring. Sowing windows that open: in September, Peas, Snow Peas, Silverbeet, Kale, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Radish, Leek, Asparagus and 20 more; in October, Lettuce, Carrot, Beetroot, Potato, Broccolini, Celery, Daikon, Fennel, Gai Lan, Mibuna and 3 more; in November, Amaranth, Horseradish, Pigface (Horokaka), Scarlet Runner Bean and Wombok. Last chance before the season ends: October for Broad Beans, Spinach, Kale, Bok Choy, Cauliflower, Onion, Collards, Komatsuna, Mibuna, Mizuna and 2 more. You can keep sowing Peas, Snow Peas, Silverbeet, Broccoli, Cabbage, Radish, Leek, Asparagus, Celeriac, Chicory, Endive, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley and 11 more through every month of it.
Summer in Central Otago (December to February)
68 vegetables can be sown at some point in summer. Sowing windows that open: in December, Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Sweet Potato and 11 more; in January, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Collards, Komatsuna, Mizuna, Swede and Turnip; in February, Spinach, Bok Choy, Broccolini, Daikon, Endive, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Mibuna, Mustard Greens, Rocket and 1 more. Last chance before the season ends: December for Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Leek and 20 more; January for Carrot, Potato, Celeriac, Chicory and Wombok. You can keep sowing Lettuce, Silverbeet, Broccoli, Beetroot, Radish, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Kohlrabi, Radicchio, Salsify, Scorzonera, Sorrel, Spring Onion and Watercress through every month of it.
Autumn in Central Otago (March to May)
31 vegetables can be sown at some point in autumn. Sowing windows that open: in March, Shallot; in April, Broad Beans and Garlic. Last chance before the season ends: March for Spinach, Silverbeet, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Radish, Collards, Florence Fennel, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry and 10 more; April for Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Endive, Mizuna, Salsify, Scorzonera and Swede. You can keep sowing Shallot through every month of it. For more detail, see what to grow in autumn.
Winter in Central Otago (June to August)
7 vegetables can be sown at some point in winter. Sowing windows that open: in August, Broad Beans, Spinach, Cabbage, Onion and Swede. Last chance before the season ends: June for Garlic and Shallot. For more detail, see winter vegetables to plant in New Zealand.
Growing Guides
In-depth guides for the most popular crops and techniques. These guides adapt to your region.
Free Monthly Planting Calendar
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Free Printable Planting Calendars
A4 landscape PDFs for each month, stick one on the fridge.
Get printable calendars →Planting calendars for other New Zealand regions
Gardening somewhere else? Each region has its own sowing windows, frost dates and month pages. For the whole country at a glance, see what vegetables to plant now in New Zealand.
- Northland vegetable planting calendar
Whangārei, Kerikeri, Kaitaia, Dargaville and Mangawhai: subtropical, effectively frost free. - Auckland vegetable planting calendar
Auckland, the North Shore, Manukau, Waitakere and Pukekohe: warm temperate, effectively frost free. - Waikato and Bay of Plenty vegetable planting calendar
Hamilton, Tauranga, Whakatāne and the Coromandel: warm temperate, frost window 25 September to 5 May. - Central North Island vegetable planting calendar
Rotorua, Taupō, Tūrangi, Taumarunui and Ohakune: cool temperate highland, frost window 15 October to 15 April. - Wellington vegetable planting calendar
Wellington, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Whanganui, Napier, Hastings and Gisborne: temperate, frost window 30 August to 10 June. - Nelson and Marlborough vegetable planting calendar
Nelson, Richmond, Motueka, Blenheim and Picton: sunny temperate, frost window 20 September to 10 May. - Canterbury vegetable planting calendar
Christchurch, Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora and Kaikōura: cool temperate, frost window 10 October to 20 April. - Otago and Southland vegetable planting calendar
Dunedin, Invercargill, Oamaru, Gore and Balclutha: cold temperate, frost window 25 October to 5 April.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I grow in Central Otago?
Central Otago's continental climate brings hot dry summers and hard frosts that can strike in any month. Hardy crops are the backbone, but the real summer heat lets warm crops succeed in the brief frost-free window with protection at each end.
When can I plant tomatoes in Central Otago?
Our Central Otago calendar has tomatoes planted out in December, in the short frost-free window, ideally with cloches or a tunnel house. Frost can occur in any month, so protect plants and choose fast, early varieties. More in when to plant tomatoes in New Zealand.
How do I garden around Central Otago's frosts?
Expect frost in any month and plan around it: hardy crops, careful timing, cloches and covers for warm crops, and irrigation for the dry summers. The strong summer heat rewards well-timed planting in the brief frost-free window.
What vegetables can I plant now in Central Otago?
It depends on the month. Going by our Central Otago calendar, in spring (Sep to Nov) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Spinach, Silverbeet and Kale; in summer (Dec to Feb) you can sow Lettuce, Silverbeet, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower and Carrot; in autumn (Mar to May) you can sow Broad Beans, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Garlic, Brussels Sprouts, Endive and Mizuna; in winter (Jun to Aug) you can sow Broad Beans, Spinach, Cabbage, Onion, Garlic, Shallot and Swede. The What to plant in Central Otago now section at the top of this page always shows the current month, and each month page lists every crop.
When is the last frost in Central Otago?
Across Central Otago the average last spring frost is around 5 November and the first autumn frost around 25 March, a growing season of about 140 days. These are regional midpoints, so a frost pocket or an inland garden can run later. Hard frosts can strike in any month. The season is short but the summer heat is real, so warm crops can succeed in the brief frost-free window with protection at each end, and the dry summers need irrigation. The frost dates by region page compares all nine regions.
When should I plant potatoes in Central Otago?
Our Central Otago calendar has potatoes planted from October to January. Plant from Oct and earth up or cover the shoots, as frosts run into early November. Keep planting through Nov to Jan with steady watering. More in how to grow potatoes.