This gardening calendar outlines major gardening tasks and what flowers and vegetables to plant for each season. It is specifically written to help gardeners in cool temperate, subtropical and tropical areas of Queensland, but gardeners living elsewhere in similar climatic regions may also find it useful. Simply decide on which of the climatic regions outlined below best describes where you garden.

Climatic regions

Tropical – Northern tip of Queensland extending south to Rockhampton. Hot and humid from December to March followed by a long dry season from April to November.
Subtropical – Coastal regions east of the dividing range south from Rockhampton to just below Coffs Harbour. Dry relatively warm winters and wet, moderately hot summers.
Cool Temperate  – Small area just inland from the coast including Toowoomba and Warwick and inland parts of northern NSW. Winters are cold and frosty.  Summers are cooler than surrounding districts.

Now select the season (above) that you are interested in and you will find a list of seasonal tasks and planting lists for the climatic zone in which you garden.

Plants grow like triffids so expect to spend more time trimming, weeding and mowing.  Heat, humidity, seasonal festivities and holidays can make it difficult to keep on top of things in this season of hectic growth.

Seasonal Tasks
Prune poinsettias, azaleas, camellias, gardenias and trim dead heads from roses.
Look for dead patches in lawns caused by lawn grubs.
Prune fruit trees in the tropics in preparation for the wet season.
Fertilise the entire garden with an organically based fertiliser.
Watch out for caterpillars on citrus, impatiens and white cedar.

Brunfelsia, jacaranda, lilly pilly, racehorse tree (Schizolobium) & sandpaper vine (Petrea)

All Zones – alyssum, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia & zinnia

Tropical – amaranthus & celosia
Subtropical & Cool Temperate - begonia, celosia, gomphrena, sunflower & torenia

All Zones - capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, radish, snake bean, sweet potato, tomato & zucchini
Tropical - choko, okra, rockmelon, rosella & watermelon
Subtropical - choko, okra, pumpkin, rockmelon, rosella, sweet corn & watermelon
Cool Temperate – beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, French bean, onion, potato, pumpkin, silver beet, squash & sweet corn

Allamanda, buckinghamia, frangipani, Rangoon creeper (Quisqualis) & summer crocus

All Zones – alyssum, celosia, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia & zinnia
Tropical – amaranthus
Subtropical & Cool Temperate - begonia, gomphrena, sunflower & torenia

All Zones -  capsicum, cucumber, lettuce, radish, tomato & zucchini

Tropical - choko, eggplant, rockmelon, snake bean, sweet potato & watermelon
Subtropical - choko, eggplant, rockmelon, snake bean, sweet corn, sweet potato & watermelon
Cool Temperate – beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, French bean, kohl rabi, onion, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, silver beet, sweet corn, squash & turnip

Bird of paradise, crepe myrtle, daylily, hibiscus & mussaenda

All Zones – alyssum, celosia, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia & zinnia

Tropical – amaranthus
Subtropical - begonia, celosia, gomphrena, sunflower & torenia
Cool Temperate - celosia, gomphrena, sunflower & torenia

All Zones -  capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, radish, sweet corn & zucchini
Tropical & Subtropical – choko, pumpkin, snake beans, squash, sweet potato & tomato

Cool Temperate – Beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, French bean, kohl rabi, onion, parsnip & turnip

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