Wellington and Lower North Island Vegetable Planting Calendar: What to Plant Now
Temperate calendar for Wellington & Lower North Island. 184 plants with monthly sow windows calibrated for local conditions.
This is our Wellington vegetable planting calendar, covering Wellington, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Whanganui, Napier, Hastings and Gisborne. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in Wellington and the lower North Island, then goes through the whole year, with sowing windows set for the temperate climate of Wellington and the lower North Island. 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. Wind is the defining factor here: it dries soil, knocks over tall crops and slows establishment, so shelter matters as much as timing.
Monthly Planting Calendar
Wellington and the lower North Island are temperate and famously windy. Frosts are light near the coast but real inland. Wind is the defining factor: it dries soil, knocks over tall crops, and slows establishment, so shelter matters more here than almost anywhere. Spring through autumn is productive; choose sturdy, wind-tolerant crops and stake early.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for Wellington and the lower North Island
Every vegetable in our Wellington 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 | Beans (bush), Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Chicory, Collards, Cucumber, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mizuna, New Zealand Spinach (Warrigal), Parsnip, Pigface (Horokaka), Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Salsify, Scarlet Runner Bean, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Sorrel, Spring Onion, Swede, Turnip, Watercress, Zucchini | 38 |
| February | Beans (bush), Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Parsnip, Pigface (Horokaka), Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 47 |
| March | Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collards, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Pigface (Horokaka), Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 51 |
| April | Bok Choy, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Carrot, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Garlic, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Pigface (Horokaka), Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 47 |
| May | Broad Beans, Garlic, Lettuce, Onion, Peas, Shallot, Spinach, Watercress | 8 |
| June | Broad Beans, Garlic, Onion, Shallot, Spinach | 5 |
| July | Broad Beans, Garlic, Spinach | 3 |
| August | Asparagus, Beetroot, Bok Choy, 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, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 49 |
| September | Asparagus, Beetroot, Bok Choy, 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 | 50 |
| October | Amaranth, Asparagus, Beetroot, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Choko, Collards, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Ginger, Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, New Zealand Spinach (Warrigal), Parsnip, Pigface (Horokaka), Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rocket, Salsify, Scorzonera, Silverbeet, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spring Onion, Swede, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turmeric, Turnip, Watercress, Wombok | 59 |
| November | Amaranth, Asparagus, Beans (bush), Beetroot, Brazilian Spinach, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Chilli, Choko, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Ginger, Kang Kong, Lettuce, Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach (Warrigal), Pigface (Horokaka), Popcorn, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radish, Rockmelon, Scarlet Runner Bean, Silverbeet, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turmeric, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini | 36 |
| December | Amaranth, Beans (bush), Beetroot, Brazilian Spinach, Capsicum, Carrot, Chilli, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Kang Kong, Lettuce, Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach (Warrigal), Pigface (Horokaka), Popcorn, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radish, Rockmelon, Scarlet Runner Bean, Silverbeet, Spring Onion, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Tomatillo, Tomato, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini | 31 |
Wellington vegetable sowing chart
33 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in Wellington and the lower North Island. 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 | Oct to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Capsicum | Oct to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Chilli | Oct to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | Oct to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Courgette (zucchini) | Nov to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | Nov to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | Nov to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | Nov to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | Nov to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Peas | Mar to May and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | Feb to Apr and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Broad Beans | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | Aug to May | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | Mar to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Silverbeet | Aug to Apr | ||||||||||||
| Kale | Jan to Mar and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Bok Choy | Feb to Apr and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | Jan to Apr and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | Jan to Mar and Aug to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | Jan to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | Aug to Apr | ||||||||||||
| Beetroot | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Radish | Aug to Apr | ||||||||||||
| Onion | Mar to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Apr to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Leek | Jan to Apr and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Potato | Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Kลซmara (sweet potato) | Nov to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Basil | Nov to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Coriander | Mar to Apr and Aug to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | Aug to May | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | Apr to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | Nov to Dec |
Browse by Category
Frost dates and climate in Wellington and the lower North Island
Wellington & Lower North Island has a temperate climate. Across the region the average last spring frost falls around 30 August and the first autumn frost around 10 June, which leaves a growing season of about 284 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.
Frosts are light near the coast but real inland. Wind is the bigger factor, so choose sturdy, wind-tolerant crops, give them shelter and stake early.
Our Wellington calendar already allows for this: frost-tender crops start later than hardy ones, with tomatoes from October and basil from November. The frost dates by region page compares all nine regions, and the free app gives a local forecast with frost alerts.
Wellington planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the Wellington sowing windows, so they change only when our data changes.
Spring in Wellington and the lower North Island (September to November)
76 vegetables can be sown at some point in spring. Sowing windows that open: in September, Pigface (Horokaka); in October, Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Amaranth, Choko, Edamame, Ginger, New Zealand Spinach (Warrigal), Quinoa and 2 more; in November, Zucchini, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Beans (bush), Sweet Potato, Watermelon, Brazilian Spinach, Kang Kong, Malabar Spinach and 4 more. Last chance before the season ends: September for Peas, Spinach and Cauliflower; October for Snow Peas, Kale, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Leek, Potato, Broccolini, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory and 27 more. You can keep sowing Lettuce, Silverbeet, Cabbage, Carrot, Beetroot, Radish, Asparagus, Pigface (Horokaka), Spring Onion and Watercress through every month of it.
Summer in Wellington and the lower North Island (December to February)
69 vegetables can be sown at some point in summer. Sowing windows that open: in January, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leek, Brussels Sprouts, Celeriac, Chicory, Collards, Globe Artichoke and 14 more; in February, Snow Peas, Bok Choy, Broccolini, Celery, Daikon, Endive, Fennel, Florence Fennel, Gai Lan, Mibuna and 4 more. Last chance before the season ends: December for Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Watermelon, Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach and 7 more; January for Zucchini, Cucumber, New Zealand Spinach (Warrigal), Quinoa and Scarlet Runner Bean. You can keep sowing Beans (bush), Lettuce, Silverbeet, Carrot, Beetroot, Radish, Pigface (Horokaka), Spring Onion and Watercress through every month of it.
Autumn in Wellington and the lower North Island (March to May)
52 vegetables can be sown at some point in autumn. Sowing windows that open: in March, Peas, Broad Beans, Spinach, Onion and Shallot; in April, Garlic. Last chance before the season ends: March for Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Beetroot and Collards; April for Snow Peas, Silverbeet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Carrot, Radish, Leek, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Celeriac and 29 more. You can keep sowing Peas, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Spinach, Onion, Shallot and Watercress through every month of it. For more detail, see what to grow in autumn.
Winter in Wellington and the lower North Island (June to August)
53 vegetables can be sown at some point in winter. Sowing windows that open: in August, Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Kale, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot and 38 more. Last chance before the season ends: June for Onion and Shallot; July for Broad Beans and Garlic. You can keep sowing Spinach through every month of it. 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 โPlanting 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
Whangฤrei, 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, Whakatฤne and the Coromandel: warm temperate, frost window 25 September to 5 May. - Central North Island vegetable planting calendar
Rotorua, Taupล, Tลซrangi, Taumarunui and Ohakune: cool temperate highland, frost window 15 October to 15 April. - 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 Kaikลura: 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. - Central Otago vegetable planting calendar
Queenstown, Wฤnaka, Alexandra, Cromwell and Arrowtown: semi-continental, frost window 5 November to 25 March.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I grow in Wellington?
Wellington's temperate climate grows the full range of vegetables, herbs and fruit, with light coastal frosts. The defining factor is wind, so shelter and sturdy, wind-tolerant crops matter more here than almost anywhere in New Zealand.
How do I deal with Wellington's wind?
Provide shelter (hedges, fences, cloches), stake tall crops like tomatoes and beans early, and choose compact or wind-tolerant varieties. Wind dries soil and slows establishment, so mulch well and water consistently.
When can I plant tomatoes in Wellington?
Our Wellington calendar has tomatoes going in from October to December, once frost risk has passed and the soil has warmed; inland gardens often wait until Labour Weekend. Start seed indoors in early spring, plant into a sheltered, sunny spot, and stake firmly against the wind. More in when to plant tomatoes in New Zealand.
What vegetables can I plant now in Wellington and the lower North Island?
It depends on the month. Going by our Wellington calendar, in spring (Sep to Nov) you can sow Tomato, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant, Snow Peas, Lettuce and Silverbeet; in summer (Dec to Feb) you can sow Zucchini, Cucumber, Beans (bush), Lettuce, Silverbeet, Kale and Broccoli; in autumn (Mar to May) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Spinach, Silverbeet and Bok Choy; in winter (Jun to Aug) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Spinach, Silverbeet and Garlic. The What to plant in Wellington and the lower North Island 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 Wellington and the lower North Island?
Across Wellington & Lower North Island the average last spring frost is around 30 August and the first autumn frost around 10 June, a growing season of about 284 days. These are regional midpoints, so a frost pocket or an inland garden can run later. Frosts are light near the coast but real inland. Wind is the bigger factor, so choose sturdy, wind-tolerant crops, give them shelter and stake early. The frost dates by region page compares all nine regions.
When should I plant potatoes in Wellington and the lower North Island?
Our Wellington calendar has potatoes planted from August to October. More in how to grow potatoes.