Climate Regions of Australia - Seed Sowing Guide
Local knowledge of what to sow, and when, is priceless. Our Climate Regions of Australia – Seed Sowing Guide is designed to help you get started, but no guide can replace observing your own garden.
Use this guide as a starting point, then make notes as you discover what thrives in your own unique microclimate. Your observations, over time, will become your most valuable sowing tool.
For example, we farm on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, less than 2 km from the Southern Ocean. Although many climate maps classify our region as Warm Temperate, our farm sits in a frost hollow where we experience regular frosts. As a result, we follow a Cool Temperate sowing calendar.
Every garden has its own story. Altitude, proximity to the coast, surrounding hills, soil type, aspect, frost pockets and even neighbouring buildings can all influence temperatures and shift sowing times.
So experiment, observe and trust what you see happening in your own garden. Over time, the relationship you build with your place will become your most valuable ‘When To Sow What’ guide.
Based on feedback from growers across Australia, we have divided the country into six practical climate regions. These regions are a guide only — local conditions may shift sowing times by several weeks.
Understanding Your Climate Region
| Climate Region | Typical Characteristics | Examples | Additional Notes |
| Alpine | Very cold winters, frequent frosts, snowfall and a short growing season | Australian Alps, Snowy Mountains, Victorian High Country, Central Highlands TAS | Warm-season crops such as tomatoes, capsicum, chilli, eggplant, cucumber, zucchini and pumpkin often benefit from being started under protection and planted out after the risk of frost has passed. |
| Cool Temperate | Cold winters with regular frosts, mild summers and four distinct seasons | Tasmania (most), Southern Victoria, Adelaide Hills, Southern Tablelands NSW, Ballarat, Orange |
Warm-season crops (basil, beans, capsicum, chilli, cucumber, eggplant, pumpkin, squash, zucchini, tomatoes) should generally wait until soils warm. Cold-hardy crops (peas, brassicas, coriander, spinach, onions) can have broader windows. |
| Warm Temperate | Mild winters with occasional frosts and warm to hot summers | Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Perth, Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, Newcastle | Frost timing varies considerably between gardens. Coastal locations may be almost frost-free, while inland valleys and frost hollows can experience regular winter frosts. Adjust sowing times to suit your local conditions. If your garden experiences regular frosts, use the Cool Temperate sowing dates. |
| Subtropical | Mild winters, hot humid summers, light frosts or frost-free conditions | Brisbane, Gold Coast, Northern Rivers NSW, Sunshine Coast | In subtropical regions with hot, humid summers, many cool-season vegetables and flowers perform best when sown from autumn through winter, even if they can technically be grown at other times of the year. |
| Tropical | Frost-free year-round, hot and humid with distinct wet and dry seasons | Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Kimberley | In tropical regions, rainfall and humidity often influence sowing times more than temperature. Many cool-season crops are best grown during the dry season. |
| Arid & Semi-arid | Low rainfall, hot summers, cold nights and irrigation often essential | Central Australia, Broken Hill, Alice Springs, inland WA, western NSW | Sowing times are strongly influenced by rainfall, irrigation and extreme summer heat. Many crops are most productive when grown through the cooler months with reliable irrigation. |
Download the Climate Regions of Australia Seed Sowing Guide (PDF)
2 comments
can you show table for warm temperate zone many thanks
Keep up the good work folks!
…appreciate all your advice and recommendations…cheers Fred