Vegetable Planting Guide for Canterbury: What to Plant Each Month

Month-by-month sowing dates for 174 vegetables, herbs, fruit and companion plants in Canterbury. Use this calendar to plan what to sow in Christchurch, Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora and Kaikōura.

Canterbury is cool temperate with hot, dry summers and cold winters bringing regular frosts, plus the drying nor'west wind. Frost defines the calendar: tender crops wait until the risk passes (around Labour Weekend) and the season is shorter than the warm north. Brassicas, roots, and cool-season greens do well; warm crops benefit from cloches and shelter from the nor'wester. This guide covers Christchurch, Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora and Kaikōura.

The green-highlighted cells show every month a plant can be sown. Sow at the beginning of the month for the fastest establishment, or stagger sowings across the window to extend your harvest. Plants with no sowing window for Canterbury in our data are not suited to the region and are left out. Frost dates differ from garden to garden, so check the frost dates by region page before you plant out anything tender.

The tables are grouped by the season in which most of a plant's sowing months fall: summer (December to February), autumn (March to May), winter (June to August) and spring (September to November). Plants that can be sown in every month are listed together at the end.

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Summer (December to February)

13 plants have most of their sowing months in this season.

Plant	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Leafy greens
Kale	Jan	Feb	Mar		Aug	Sep	Oct
Brazilian Spinach									Dec
Kang Kong									Dec
Malabar Spinach									Dec
Brassicas
Cauliflower	Jan	Feb	Mar		Aug	Sep	Oct
Brussels Sprouts	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr
Collards	Jan	Feb	Mar		Aug	Sep	Oct
Fruiting vegetables
Florence Fennel	Jan	Feb	Mar			Sep			Dec
Root vegetables
Jerusalem Artichoke	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Swede	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr
Herbs
Marjoram	Jan	Feb					Oct	Nov	Dec
Companion flowers
Marigold	Jan							Nov	Dec
Nasturtium	Jan							Nov	Dec

Autumn (March to May)

7 plants have most of their sowing months in this season.

Plant	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep
Leafy greens
Spinach	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep
Fruiting vegetables
Broad Beans	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep
Root vegetables
Onion	Mar	Apr	May			Aug	Sep
Garlic		Apr	May	Jun	Jul
Shallot	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Fruit, berries and nuts
Strawberry		Apr	May			Aug	Sep
Companion flowers
Sweet Pea	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep

Winter (June to August)

30 plants have most of their sowing months in this season.

Plant	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep
Fruit, berries and nuts
Almond	Jun	Jul	Aug
Apple	Jun	Jul	Aug
Apricot	Jun	Jul	Aug
Blackberry	Jun	Jul	Aug
Blackcurrant	Jun	Jul	Aug
Blueberry	Jun	Jul	Aug
Boysenberry	Jun	Jul	Aug
Cherry	Jun	Jul	Aug
Elderflower	Jun	Jul	Aug
Fig	Jun	Jul	Aug
Gooseberry	Jun	Jul	Aug
Grape	Jun	Jul	Aug
Hazelnut	Jun	Jul	Aug
Jujube	Jun	Jul	Aug
Kiwifruit	Jun	Jul	Aug
Medlar	Jun	Jul	Aug
Mulberry	Jun	Jul	Aug
Nashi	Jun	Jul	Aug
Nectarine	Jun	Jul	Aug
Peach	Jun	Jul	Aug
Pear	Jun	Jul	Aug
Persimmon	Jun	Jul	Aug
Plum	Jun	Jul	Aug
Pomegranate	Jun	Jul	Aug
Quince	Jun	Jul	Aug
Raspberry	Jun	Jul	Aug
Redcurrant	Jun	Jul	Aug
Sweet Chestnut	Jun	Jul	Aug
Walnut	Jun	Jul	Aug
Companion flowers
Culinary Rose	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep

Spring (September to November)

118 plants have most of their sowing months in this season.

Plant	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Leafy greens
Lettuce	Jan	Feb	Mar				Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Silverbeet	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rocket		Feb	Mar	Apr			Sep	Oct	Nov
Celery	Jan						Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Amaranth									Nov	Dec
Bok Choy		Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Chicory	Jan	Feb	Mar			Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Endive		Feb	Mar	Apr			Sep	Oct	Nov
Fennel		Feb					Sep	Oct	Nov
Good King Henry	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Komatsuna	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Mibuna		Feb	Mar	Apr			Sep	Oct	Nov
Mizuna	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
New Zealand Spinach (Kōkihi)									Nov	Dec
Pigface (Horokaka)	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr			Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Radicchio	Jan	Feb	Mar			Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sorrel	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Tatsoi		Feb	Mar				Sep	Oct	Nov
Watercress	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Brassicas
Broccoli	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Cabbage	Jan	Feb	Mar			Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Broccolini		Feb	Mar				Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Gai Lan		Feb	Mar				Sep	Oct	Nov
Kohlrabi	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Mustard Greens		Feb	Mar	Apr			Sep	Oct	Nov
Wombok		Feb	Mar			Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Fruiting vegetables
Tomato							Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Beans (bush)									Nov	Dec
Peas						Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Capsicum									Nov	Dec
Cucumber									Nov	Dec
Zucchini									Nov	Dec
Pumpkin									Nov	Dec
Sweet Corn									Nov	Dec
Eggplant									Nov	Dec
Chilli									Nov	Dec
Watermelon									Nov	Dec
Rockmelon									Nov	Dec
Asparagus						Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Choko									Nov
Edamame									Nov	Dec
Globe Artichoke	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Hibiscus									Nov	Dec
Okra									Nov
Popcorn									Nov	Dec
Quinoa									Nov	Dec
Rhubarb			Mar	Apr			Sep	Oct	Nov
Scarlet Runner Bean									Nov	Dec
Snow Peas		Feb				Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Squash									Nov	Dec
Tomatillo									Nov	Dec
Root vegetables
Carrot	Jan	Feb					Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Beetroot	Jan	Feb	Mar				Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Potato	Jan						Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Spring Onion	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Radish	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Leek	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sweet Potato									Nov
Celeriac	Jan					Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Daikon		Feb	Mar				Sep	Oct	Nov
Hamburg Parsley	Jan					Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Horseradish						Aug	Sep	Oct
Parsnip	Jan	Feb	Mar			Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Salsify	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Scorzonera	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Turnip	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Herbs
Basil									Nov	Dec
Coriander			Mar				Sep	Oct	Nov
Parsley	Jan	Feb	Mar			Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Mint	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rosemary	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Thyme	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Oregano	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Chives	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Bay Laurel	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr			Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Chamomile		Feb	Mar				Sep	Oct
Dill		Feb	Mar	Apr			Sep	Oct	Nov
Hops						Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Lemon Balm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Lemon Verbena									Nov	Dec
Lemongrass									Nov	Dec
Lovage	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sage	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sea Celery	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Shiso (Perilla)									Nov	Dec
Stevia									Nov	Dec
Summer Savory									Nov	Dec
Tarragon	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Thai Basil									Nov	Dec
Vietnamese Mint									Nov	Dec
Fruit, berries and nuts
Blood Orange									Nov
Cape Gooseberry									Nov	Dec
Cumquat									Nov
Feijoa								Oct	Nov
Finger Lime									Nov
Honeydew Melon									Nov	Dec
Lemon Tree									Nov
Loquat								Oct	Nov
Mandarin									Nov
Olive								Oct	Nov
Orange Tree									Nov
Passionfruit									Nov
Pepino									Nov	Dec
Companion flowers
Sunflower									Nov	Dec
Alyssum	Jan	Feb	Mar				Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Australian Native Violet	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Borage	Jan	Feb	Mar				Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Calendula	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Comfrey	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cornflower	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cosmos									Nov	Dec
Dahlia									Nov	Dec
Echinacea	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Lavender	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Snapdragon	Jan	Feb	Mar			Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Viola	Jan	Feb	Mar			Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Yarrow	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Zinnia									Nov	Dec

Year-Round (Can be sown any month)

6 plants can be sown in every month of the year.

Plant	Type	Sowing window
Broccoli Sprouts	Microgreens and sprouts	January to December
Pea Shoots	Microgreens and sprouts	January to December
Radish Sprouts	Microgreens and sprouts	January to December
Sunflower Microgreens	Microgreens and sprouts	January to December
Oyster Mushroom	Mushrooms	January to December
Shiitake	Mushrooms	January to December

Turn This Calendar Into Your Garden Plan

The free app takes this Canterbury calendar and makes it yours: drag crops into your bed, get a sow reminder when each window opens, and track everything to harvest. Free on one bed, no card needed.

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The Canterbury Garden Planner

An undated planting calendar, sowing log and harvest journal for Christchurch, Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora and Kaikōura. Every month opens with what to sow, plant out and pick, taken from this calendar, and the facing pages are yours to write in. The printable PDF is available on this site.

See the planner

Planting calendars for other New Zealand regions

Gardening somewhere else? Each region has its own sowing windows. For the whole country at a glance, see what vegetables to plant now in New Zealand, or open the Canterbury planting calendar page for what to sow this month.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I plant tender crops in Canterbury?

Frost defines the Canterbury calendar. Tender crops wait until the risk passes, around Labour Weekend, and the season is shorter than in the warm north. Summers are hot and dry and winters are cold with regular frosts, plus the drying nor'west wind.

When should I sow tomatoes in Canterbury?

In this calendar tomato is sown from September to December. Sow under cover from September, then plant out from early November after the last frost, sheltered from the nor'west wind. December sowings suit cherry and early types.

Why are some plants missing from the Canterbury calendar?

The calendar lists every plant that has a sowing window for the region in our data. 19 plants in the library are marked as not suited to Canterbury, for example Lime Tree, Pawpaw, Banana and Macadamia, so they do not appear. The note for Lime Tree reads: Too frost tender for Canterbury. Keep a Tahitian lime in a pot moved under cover for winter.

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