Vegetable Planting Guide for Nelson and Marlborough: What to Plant Each Month

Month-by-month sowing dates for 184 vegetables, herbs, fruit and companion plants in Nelson and Marlborough. Use this calendar to plan what to sow in Nelson, Richmond, Motueka, Blenheim and Picton.

Nelson and Marlborough are among New Zealand's sunniest regions: temperate, relatively dry, with warm summers and cool, frosty winters inland. The high sunshine hours make for excellent fruit and vegetable growing, and the dry climate reduces fungal disease. Frost timing governs when tender crops go out; otherwise this is a gardener's climate. This guide covers Nelson, Richmond, Motueka, Blenheim and Picton.

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 Nelson and Marlborough 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)

40 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
Chicory	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Good King Henry	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Komatsuna	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
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		Aug	Sep
Brussels Sprouts	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr
Collards	Jan	Feb	Mar		Aug	Sep	Oct
Kohlrabi	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Fruiting vegetables
Beans (bush)	Jan	Feb						Nov	Dec
Cucumber	Jan							Nov	Dec
Zucchini	Jan							Nov	Dec
Globe Artichoke	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Rhubarb	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Scarlet Runner Bean	Jan							Nov	Dec
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	Jan	Feb						Nov	Dec
Aloe Vera	Jan	Feb					Oct	Nov	Dec
Lemongrass	Jan							Nov	Dec
Lovage	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
Sage	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Aug	Sep	Oct
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
Marigold	Jan	Feb					Oct	Nov	Dec
Nasturtium	Jan	Feb					Oct	Nov	Dec
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)

27 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				Aug	Sep	Oct
Celery	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Bok Choy	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Endive	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Fennel	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Mibuna	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Tatsoi	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Brassicas
Broccolini	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Gai Lan	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Mustard Greens	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Wombok	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Fruiting vegetables
Peas		Mar	Apr	May			Aug	Sep
Broad Beans		Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul
Florence Fennel	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	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				Aug	Sep	Oct
Shallot		Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Herbs
Coriander		Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Chamomile	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Dill	Feb	Mar	Apr				Aug	Sep	Oct
Fruit, berries and nuts
Strawberry			Apr	May	Jun	Jul
Feijoa		Mar	Apr	May				Sep	Oct
Olive		Mar	Apr					Sep	Oct
Companion flowers
Sweet Pea		Mar	Apr	May	Jun		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)

81 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	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Silverbeet	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Amaranth								Oct	Nov	Dec
Brazilian Spinach									Nov	Dec
Kang Kong									Nov	Dec
Malabar Spinach									Nov	Dec
New Zealand Spinach (Kōkihi)	Jan							Oct	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
Capsicum								Oct	Nov	Dec
Pumpkin									Nov	Dec
Sweet Corn									Nov	Dec
Eggplant								Oct	Nov	Dec
Chilli								Oct	Nov	Dec
Watermelon									Nov	Dec
Rockmelon									Nov	Dec
Asparagus						Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov
Choko								Oct	Nov
Edamame								Oct	Nov	Dec
Hibiscus								Oct	Nov	Dec
Okra									Nov	Dec
Popcorn									Nov	Dec
Quinoa	Jan							Oct	Nov	Dec
Squash									Nov	Dec
Tomatillo								Oct	Nov	Dec
Root vegetables
Carrot	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Beetroot	Jan	Feb	Mar			Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Potato						Aug	Sep	Oct
Spring Onion	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Radish	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr		Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sweet Potato									Nov	Dec
Ginger								Oct	Nov
Horseradish						Aug	Sep	Oct
Turmeric								Oct	Nov
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	Jan							Oct	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)								Oct	Nov	Dec
Stevia								Oct	Nov	Dec
Summer Savory	Jan							Oct	Nov	Dec
Tarragon	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Thai Basil									Nov	Dec
Vietnamese Mint								Oct	Nov	Dec
Fruit, berries and nuts
Avocado								Oct	Nov
Blood Orange								Oct	Nov
Cape Gooseberry								Oct	Nov	Dec
Cumquat								Oct	Nov
Finger Lime								Oct	Nov	Dec
Grapefruit Tree								Oct	Nov
Honeydew Melon									Nov	Dec
Jaboticaba								Oct	Nov	Dec
Lemon Tree								Oct	Nov
Lime Tree								Oct	Nov	Dec
Loquat								Oct	Nov
Macadamia								Oct	Nov
Mandarin								Oct	Nov
Orange Tree								Oct	Nov
Passionfruit								Oct	Nov	Dec
Pepino								Oct	Nov	Dec
Tamarillo								Oct	Nov
Tangelo								Oct	Nov
Companion flowers
Sunflower								Oct	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								Oct	Nov	Dec
Dahlia								Oct	Nov	Dec
Echinacea	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Zinnia								Oct	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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Nelson and Marlborough Garden Planner cover

The Nelson and Marlborough Garden Planner

An undated planting calendar, sowing log and harvest journal for Nelson, Richmond, Motueka, Blenheim and Picton. 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 Nelson and Marlborough planting calendar page for what to sow this month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nelson and Marlborough a good climate for vegetables?

Yes. It is among New Zealand's sunniest regions: temperate and relatively dry, with warm summers and cool, frosty winters inland. The high sunshine hours suit fruit and vegetables, and the dry climate reduces fungal disease.

When should I sow tomatoes in Nelson and Marlborough?

In this calendar tomato is sown from September to December. Sow under cover from September, then plant out from Labour Weekend once the soil warms.

Why are some plants missing from the Nelson and Marlborough calendar?

The calendar lists every plant that has a sowing window for the region in our data. 9 plants in the library are marked as not suited to Nelson and Marlborough, for example Pawpaw, Banana, Pomelo and Carob, so they do not appear. The note for Pawpaw reads: Too cold for pawpaw outdoors here. Only worth trying in a glasshouse.

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