Central North Island Grow Guide
Cool temperate highland calendar for the Central North Island. 138 plants with monthly sow windows calibrated for local conditions.
Monthly Planting Calendar
The Central North Island covers Rotorua, Taupō and the Ruapehu district on the volcanic plateau, much of it 300 to 600 metres up. Altitude brings cold nights and hard frosts from mid April to mid October, so the season is shorter than the latitude suggests. Pumice soils drain fast and hold few nutrients, so dig in compost and water in dry spells despite the high rainfall. Brassicas, roots, berries and fruit trees that need winter chill do well; tender crops wait until November.
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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 →Frequently Asked Questions
When are the frost dates in the Central North Island?
On the volcanic plateau the last spring frost is usually around 15 October and the first autumn frost around 15 April, which gives a frost free season of about six months. Higher sites such as Tūrangi, National Park and Ohakune can frost later in spring and earlier in autumn, so keep frost cloth handy until November and hold tender crops back until then.
How do I garden in pumice soil?
The pumice soils around Taupō and Rotorua drain very fast and hold few nutrients, so water and fertiliser wash straight through. Dig in plenty of compost and well rotted manure each season, mulch to hold moisture, and water in dry spells even though the annual rainfall is high. Raised beds filled with a compost rich mix warm up sooner and give crops a better start.
What grows well at altitude, and what needs a tunnel house?
Brassicas, root crops, potatoes, garlic, peas, broad beans, berries and fruit trees that need winter chill, such as apples, pears and cherries, all do well on the plateau. Tomatoes, capsicums, eggplant, chillies, basil and melons wait until November or December and crop far better in a tunnel house, glasshouse or under cloches. Frost tender fruit such as limes, avocados and tamarillos are not suited to growing outdoors here.