Australian planting calendar
What to plant in January in a Arid garden
Explore 32 core planting options for January in the Arid zone, with practical garden jobs and links to our growing guides.
These are broad climate-zone windows. Local weather, frost, soil conditions and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing. Check the plant guide before starting.
Not sure which zone applies? Find your zone before using this calendar. Want this tailored to your garden? Save your plants in My Garden.
Core planting options
The planting method matters: sowing seed and planting seedlings, tubers or nursery plants are different jobs. “Sow” means the underlying source does not specify direct sowing or trays.
Leafy greens
Amaranth
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–Mar, Sep–Dec
How to grow amaranthHerbs
Anise
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow aniseLegumes
Asparagus pea
Sow direct
Core planting window: Jan-Apr,Aug,Oct-Dec
How to grow asparagus peaHerbs
Basil
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Mar
How to grow basilPods & fruit
Beans (bush/French)
Sow
Core planting window: Sep-Feb
How to grow beans (bush/french)Tropical & subtropical edibles
Bitter melon
Sow
Core planting window: Jan,Sep-Dec
How to grow bitter melonPods & fruit
Capsicum
Sow
Core planting window: Sep-Mar
How to grow capsicumRoots & bulbs
Carrot
Sow
Core planting window: All year
How to grow carrotHerbs
Chives
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–Apr, Sep–Dec
How to grow chivesLegumes
Climbing beans
Sow
Core planting window: Jan, Sep–Dec
How to grow climbing beansPods & fruit
Cucumber
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Feb
How to grow cucumberRoots & bulbs
Daikon
Sow direct
Core planting window: Jan-May,Aug,Oct-Dec
How to grow daikonPods & fruit
Eggplant
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Jan
How to grow eggplantEdible flowers
French marigold
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–Feb, Sep–Dec
How to grow french marigoldLeafy greens
Garden cress
Sow
Core planting window: All year
How to grow garden cressHerbs
Hyssop
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow hyssopLeafy greens
Ice plant
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow ice plantLegumes
Lima bean
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow lima beanHerbs
Liquorice root
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow liquorice rootHerbs
Lovage
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow lovageFruiting crops
Marrow
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Aug,Oct-Dec
How to grow marrowLeafy greens
Mustard greens
Sow
Core planting window: All year
How to grow mustard greensHerbs
Plantain
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow plantainLeafy greens
Purslane
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow purslaneRoots & bulbs
Radish
Sow
Core planting window: All year
How to grow radishTropical & subtropical edibles
Rosella
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Mar,Sep-Dec
How to grow rosellaRoots & bulbs
Salsify
Sow direct
Core planting window: Jan-Apr,Aug,Oct-Dec
How to grow salsifyEdible flowers
Sunflower
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–Feb, Aug–Dec
How to grow sunflowerPods & fruit
Sweet corn
Sow
Core planting window: Sep-Jan
How to grow sweet cornLegumes
Winged bean
Sow
Core planting window: Jan,Nov-Dec
How to grow winged beanLegumes
Yardlong bean
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow yardlong beanPods & fruit
Zucchini
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Feb
How to grow zucchiniPossible / shoulder planting options
These sit at the edge of the planting window and need more care with local conditions. They are kept separate from the core options.
Herbs
Borage
Sow
Core planting window: Oct–Dec
How to grow borageRoots & bulbs
Burdock
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–Apr
How to grow burdockEdible flowers
Calendula
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–May, Sep–Oct
How to grow calendulaRoots & bulbs
Kohlrabi
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–May, Aug
How to grow kohlrabiFruiting crops
Luffa
Sow
Core planting window: Sep–Oct
How to grow luffaLeafy greens
Mizuna
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–May
How to grow mizunaEdible flowers
Nasturtium
Sow
Core planting window: Feb–Mar, Sep
How to grow nasturtiumHerbs
Oregano
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–Apr, Sep–Nov
How to grow oreganoHerbs
Parsley
Sow
Core planting window: May
How to grow parsleyFruiting crops
Rockmelon
Sow
Core planting window: Sep–Oct
How to grow rockmelonHerbs
Sage
Sow
Core planting window: Sep–Dec
How to grow sageFruiting crops
Squash
Sow
Core planting window: Sep
How to grow squashRoots & bulbs
Turnip
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–May
How to grow turnipLeafy greens
Warrigal greens
Sow
Core planting window: Sep–Oct
How to grow warrigal greensFruiting crops
Watermelon
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Nov
How to grow watermelonIn the garden in January
Use these jobs when the stated conditions apply in your garden.
Protect soil through peak heat
Check shade, mulch and irrigation coverage so vulnerable beds are protected without watering by habit.
When this applies: Base changes on soil moisture and plant need; avoid fixed volumes or universal schedules.
Year-round care
Check before watering
Check moisture around the roots and the rain forecast before watering. Water only where needed and follow local watering rules.
When this applies: Use the soil and plant needs to guide watering, rather than a fixed calendar interval.
How to do it
Give vulnerable plants temporary shade
Before a forecast hot spell, for young or heat-sensitive plants. Remove temporary protection as conditions ease.
Check and top up garden mulch
When cover has thinned or bare soil needs protection. Assess what is already there before adding another layer.
Check irrigation and adjust it to the weather
At season changes, after repairs and whenever plants show uneven watering.
Decide whether your plant needs water
Before watering, after useful rain, and more often when plants are young or weather is hot or windy. This is a check, not a fixed watering schedule.
Sources and timing
Planting windows come from The Garden Hand’s existing planting calendar. Follow each plant link for its full growing guide. Garden jobs retain their existing zone, month and condition rules; year-round care is shown separately.
- Waterwise gardening: Watering
© The State of Queensland. Adapted and abridged; sourced 17 September 2026. No endorsement implied.
CC BY 4.0 - The Ultimate Irrigation User Guide: Central Australia
Cited for factual research only. Garden Archive wording is original; sourced 18 September 2026.
Copyright; research only