Vegetable Planting Guide for the Central North Island: What to Plant Each Month

Month-by-month sowing dates for 168 vegetables, herbs, fruit and companion plants in the Central North Island. Use this calendar to plan what to sow in Rotorua, Taupō, Tūrangi, Taumarunui and Ohakune.

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. This guide covers Rotorua, Taupō, Tūrangi, Taumarunui and Ohakune.

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 the Central North Island 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)

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

Plant	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct	Dec
Leafy greens
Kale	Jan	Feb	Mar		Aug	Sep	Oct
Brazilian Spinach								Dec
Chicory	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Good King Henry	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Kang Kong								Dec
Komatsuna	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Malabar Spinach								Dec
Mizuna	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Radicchio	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Sorrel	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Brassicas
Broccoli	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Cauliflower	Jan	Feb	Mar			Sep
Brussels Sprouts	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr
Collards	Jan	Feb	Mar		Aug	Sep	Oct
Kohlrabi	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Fruiting vegetables
Watermelon								Dec
Rockmelon								Dec
Globe Artichoke	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Rhubarb	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Root vegetables
Leek	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Celeriac	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Hamburg Parsley	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Jerusalem Artichoke	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Parsnip	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Salsify	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Scorzonera	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Swede	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Turnip	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Herbs
Basil								Dec
Lovage	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Sage	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Thai Basil								Dec
Fruit, berries and nuts
Honeydew Melon								Dec
Companion flowers
Calendula	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Cornflower	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Lavender	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Snapdragon	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Viola	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Yarrow	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct

Autumn (March to May)

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

Plant	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct
Leafy greens
Spinach		Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep
Rocket	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Celery	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Bok Choy	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Endive	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Fennel	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Mibuna	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Tatsoi	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Brassicas
Broccolini	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Gai Lan	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Mustard Greens	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Wombok	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Fruiting vegetables
Peas		Mar	Apr	May			Aug	Sep
Broad Beans		Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul
Florence Fennel	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Snow Peas	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Root vegetables
Onion		Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep
Garlic			Apr	May	Jun	Jul
Daikon	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Shallot		Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Herbs
Coriander		Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Chamomile	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Dill	Feb	Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Fruit, berries and nuts
Strawberry			Apr	May	Jun	Jul
Companion flowers
Sweet Pea		Mar	Apr	May	Jun		Aug	Sep

Winter (June to August)

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

Plant	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep
Fruit, berries and nuts
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
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)

70 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	Apr	May		Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Silverbeet	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Amaranth									Nov	Dec
New Zealand Spinach (Kōkihi)									Nov	Dec
Pigface (Horokaka)	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr			Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Watercress	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Brassicas
Cabbage	Jan	Feb	Mar			Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Fruiting vegetables
Tomato							Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Beans (bush)									Nov	Dec
Capsicum									Nov	Dec
Cucumber									Nov	Dec
Zucchini									Nov	Dec
Pumpkin									Nov
Sweet Corn									Nov	Dec
Eggplant									Nov	Dec
Chilli									Nov	Dec
Asparagus						Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Edamame									Nov	Dec
Hibiscus									Nov	Dec
Popcorn									Nov
Quinoa									Nov	Dec
Scarlet Runner Bean									Nov	Dec
Squash									Nov	Dec
Tomatillo									Nov	Dec
Root vegetables
Carrot	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr			Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Beetroot	Jan	Feb	Mar				Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Potato								Oct	Nov
Spring Onion	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Radish	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sweet Potato									Nov
Horseradish						Aug	Sep	Oct
Herbs
Parsley	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	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
Hops						Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Lemon Balm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Lemon Verbena									Nov	Dec
Lemongrass									Nov	Dec
Marjoram	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr			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
Vietnamese Mint									Nov	Dec
Fruit, berries and nuts
Cape Gooseberry									Nov	Dec
Cumquat									Nov
Feijoa								Oct	Nov
Lemon Tree									Nov
Loquat									Nov
Macadamia									Nov
Mandarin									Nov
Olive								Oct	Nov
Passionfruit									Nov
Pepino									Nov	Dec
Companion flowers
Sunflower									Nov	Dec
Alyssum	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr			Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Australian Native Violet	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Borage	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr			Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Comfrey	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cosmos									Nov	Dec
Dahlia									Nov	Dec
Echinacea	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Marigold									Nov	Dec
Nasturtium									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

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Central North Island Garden Planner cover

The Central North Island Garden Planner

An undated planting calendar, sowing log and harvest journal for Rotorua, Taupō, Tūrangi, Taumarunui and Ohakune. 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.

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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 Central North Island planting calendar page for what to sow this month.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does altitude change the Central North Island calendar?

The region 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 and tender crops wait until November.

When should I sow tomatoes in the Central North Island?

In this calendar tomato is sown from September to December. Sow under cover from September, then plant out from mid November once the frosts are done. Cloches help on cold plateau nights.

Why are some plants missing from the Central North Island calendar?

The calendar lists every plant that has a sowing window for the region in our data. 25 plants in the library are marked as not suited to the Central North Island, for example Lime Tree, Pawpaw, Banana and Finger Lime, so they do not appear. The note for Lime Tree reads: Too frost tender for the plateau. Keep a Tahitian lime in a pot moved under cover for winter.

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