Dunedin, Otago and Southland Vegetable Planting Calendar: What to Plant Now
Cold temperate calendar for Otago & Southland. 165 plants with monthly sow windows calibrated for local conditions.
This is our Otago and Southland vegetable planting calendar, covering Dunedin, Invercargill, Oamaru, Gore and Balclutha. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in Otago and Southland, then goes through the whole year, with sowing windows set for the cold temperate climate of coastal Otago and Southland. 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. These are New Zealand's coldest lowland regions, so fast-maturing and frost-hardy crops are the backbone of the calendar, and tender summer crops need the warmest spot, a cloche or a tunnel house.
Monthly Planting Calendar
Otago and Southland are New Zealand's coldest lowland regions: short, cool summers and cold winters with hard frosts. The growing window is narrow, so fast-maturing and frost-hardy crops are the backbone. Tender summer crops need the warmest spot, cloches, or a tunnel house. Brassicas, roots, peas, and leafy greens reward gardeners here through long cool seasons.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for Otago and Southland
Every vegetable in our Otago and Southland 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, Hamburg Parsley, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Parsnip, Pigface (Horokaka), Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Sorrel, Spring Onion, Swede, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 34 |
| February | Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Pigface (Horokaka), Radicchio, Radish, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 37 |
| March | Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Pigface (Horokaka), Radish, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Silverbeet, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 32 |
| April | Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Endive, Garlic, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Komatsuna, Mizuna, Onion, Pigface (Horokaka), Radish, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Sorrel, Spinach, Swede, Watercress | 20 |
| May | Broad Beans, Garlic, Onion, Shallot | 4 |
| June | Broad Beans, Garlic, Shallot | 3 |
| July | Garlic | 1 |
| August | Broad Beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Globe Artichoke, Kale, Onion, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede | 9 |
| September | Asparagus, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Chicory, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, 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 | 37 |
| October | Asparagus, Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Parsnip, Peas, Pigface (Horokaka), Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 51 |
| November | Asparagus, Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, New Zealand Spinach (Warrigal), Parsnip, Peas, Pigface (Horokaka), Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scarlet Runner Bean, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 55 |
| December | Amaranth, Beans (bush), Beetroot, Brazilian Spinach, Broccoli, Broccolini, Capsicum, Carrot, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Kang Kong, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Malabar Spinach, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, New Zealand Spinach (Warrigal), Parsnip, Peas, Pigface (Horokaka), Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Salsify, Scarlet Runner Bean, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Watercress, Watermelon, Wombok, Zucchini | 58 |
Otago and Southland vegetable sowing chart
33 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in Otago and Southland. 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 | Nov to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Capsicum | Nov to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Chilli | Nov to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | Nov to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Courgette (zucchini) | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Peas | Sep to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | Sep to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Broad Beans | Apr to Jun and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | Oct to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | Feb to Apr and Aug to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Silverbeet | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Kale | Jan to Mar and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Bok Choy | Feb to Apr and Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | Sep to Apr | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | Jan to Mar and Aug to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | Jan to Mar and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | Oct to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Beetroot | Oct to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Radish | Sep to Apr | ||||||||||||
| Onion | Apr to May and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Apr to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Leek | Sep to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Potato | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Kūmara (sweet potato) | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Basil | Dec | ||||||||||||
| Coriander | Mar and Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | Apr and Sep to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | Dec |
Local timing notes for Otago and Southland
Where timing in Otago and Southland 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 Dec): Sow Sep to Dec. Cool summers suit peas well here.
- Snow Peas (Sep to Dec): Sow Sep to Dec. Cool summers suit them well.
- Broad Beans (Apr to Jun and Aug to Oct): Sow Apr to Jun to overwinter, or Aug to Oct for a summer crop.
- Lettuce (Oct to Mar): Start spring sowings in Oct under a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to late October. Make the last sowing in Mar so the crop is ready before winter growth stops.
- Spinach (Feb to Apr and Aug to Nov): Sow Aug to Nov and again Feb to Apr. Cool summers slow bolting; midwinter sowings sit in cold soil.
- 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.
- Bok Choy (Feb to Apr and Sep to Nov): Sow Sep to Nov and Feb to Apr. Cover early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to late October. 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 late October. Get the last sowing in by Apr so it sizes up before winter growth stops.
- Cauliflower (Jan to Mar and Aug to Oct): Sow Aug to Oct and Jan to Mar. Cover early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to late October. Get the last sowing in by Mar so it sizes up before winter growth stops.
- Carrot (Oct to Feb): Start spring sowings in Oct under a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to late October. Make the last sowing in Feb 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 to late October. Make the last sowing in Feb so the crop is ready before winter growth stops.
- Radish (Sep to Apr): Start spring sowings in Sep; the soil is too cold before then.
- Onion (Apr to May and Aug to Sep): Sow Apr to May to overwinter, or Aug to Sep for a summer bulb.
- Leek (Sep to Jan): Start spring sowings in Sep; the soil is too cold before then. Cool summers let you keep sowing through Nov to Dec. Make the last sowing in Jan so the crop is ready before winter growth stops.
- Potato (Oct to Jan): Plant from Oct and earth up or cover the shoots, as frosts run to late October. Cool summers let you keep planting through Nov to Jan.
- Coriander (Mar and Oct to Jan): Start spring sowings in Oct under a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to late October. Cool summers let you keep sowing through Nov to Jan. Make the last sowing in Mar so the crop is ready before winter growth stops.
- Parsley (Sep to Feb): Start spring sowings in Sep; the soil is too cold before then. Make the last sowing in Feb so the crop is ready before winter growth stops.
- Strawberry (Apr and Sep to Oct): Plant in April so crowns root in before winter, or wait for Sep to Oct.
Browse by Category
Frost dates and climate in Otago and Southland
Otago & Southland has a cold temperate climate. Across the region the average last spring frost falls around 25 October and the first autumn frost around 5 April, which leaves a growing season of about 162 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.
Summers are short and cool and winters bring hard frosts, so the growing window is narrow. Tender summer crops need the warmest spot, cloches or a tunnel house.
Our Otago and Southland calendar already allows for this: frost-tender crops start later than hardy ones, with tomatoes from November 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.
Otago and Southland planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the Otago and Southland sowing windows, so they change only when our data changes.
Spring in Otago and Southland (September to November)
61 vegetables can be sown at some point in spring. Sowing windows that open: in September, Peas, Snow Peas, Silverbeet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Radish, Leek, Asparagus, Celeriac, Chicory and 18 more; in October, Lettuce, Carrot, Beetroot, Potato, Broccolini, Celery, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Horseradish, Mibuna and 5 more; in November, Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Edamame, New Zealand Spinach (Warrigal), Quinoa, Scarlet Runner Bean and Tomatillo. Last chance before the season ends: September for Onion; October for Broad Beans, Kale, Cauliflower, Collards and Swede. You can keep sowing Peas, Snow Peas, Spinach, Silverbeet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Radish, Leek, Asparagus, Celeriac, Chicory, Daikon, Endive and 17 more through every month of it.
Summer in Otago and Southland (December to February)
69 vegetables can be sown at some point in summer. Sowing windows that open: in December, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Sweet Potato, Watermelon, Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Kang Kong and 4 more; in January, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Collards and Swede; in February, Spinach, Bok Choy, Broccolini, Daikon, Endive, Gai Lan, Rocket and Tatsoi. Last chance before the season ends: December for Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Peas and 20 more; January for Leek, Potato, Celeriac, Hamburg Parsley and Parsnip. You can keep sowing Lettuce, Silverbeet, Broccoli, Carrot, Beetroot, Radish, Chicory, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens and 9 more through every month of it.
Autumn in Otago and Southland (March to May)
35 vegetables can be sown at some point in autumn. Sowing windows that open: in March, Shallot; in April, Broad Beans, Onion and Garlic. Last chance before the season ends: March for Lettuce, Silverbeet, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Daikon, Gai Lan, Kohlrabi, Mibuna and 5 more; April for Spinach, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Radish, Brussels Sprouts, Endive, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Komatsuna, Mizuna and 6 more. You can keep sowing Shallot through every month of it. For more detail, see what to grow in autumn.
Winter in Otago and Southland (June to August)
11 vegetables can be sown at some point in winter. Sowing windows that open: in August, Broad Beans, Spinach, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Onion, Globe Artichoke, Spring Onion and Swede. Last chance before the season ends: June for Broad Beans and Shallot; July for Garlic. 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
Get a personalised email each month with what to plant, seasonal tips, and harvest reminders for your region.
We send one email per month. Unsubscribe any time.
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. - Central Otago vegetable planting calendar
Queenstown, Wānaka, Alexandra, Cromwell and Arrowtown: semi-continental, frost window 5 November to 25 March.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I grow in Otago and Southland?
In New Zealand's coldest lowland regions, fast-maturing and frost-hardy crops are the backbone: brassicas, roots, peas and leafy greens. Tender summer crops need the warmest spot, cloches, or a tunnel house, and a short window.
When can I plant tomatoes in Otago or Southland?
Our Otago and Southland calendar has tomatoes planted out in November and December, once frost risk passes, and ideally under cover. The season is short, so choose early, fast-maturing varieties and start seed indoors with warmth. More in when to plant tomatoes in New Zealand.
How do I make the most of a short southern season?
Choose quick-maturing, frost-hardy varieties, warm the soil with cloches or covers, and grow tender crops in the most sheltered, sunny spot or a tunnel house. Brassicas, roots and greens reward you through the long cool seasons.
What vegetables can I plant now in Otago and Southland?
It depends on the month. Going by our Otago and Southland 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, Spinach, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Radish, Onion and Garlic; in winter (Jun to Aug) you can sow Broad Beans, Spinach, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Onion and Garlic. The What to plant in Otago and Southland 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 Otago and Southland?
Across Otago & Southland the average last spring frost is around 25 October and the first autumn frost around 5 April, a growing season of about 162 days. These are regional midpoints, so a frost pocket or an inland garden can run later. Summers are short and cool and winters bring hard frosts, so the growing window is narrow. Tender summer crops need the warmest spot, cloches or a tunnel house. The frost dates by region page compares all nine regions.
When should I plant potatoes in Otago and Southland?
Our Otago and Southland calendar has potatoes planted from October to January. Plant from Oct and earth up or cover the shoots, as frosts run to late October. Cool summers let you keep planting through Nov to Jan. More in how to grow potatoes.