Australian planting calendar
What to plant in September in a Arid garden
Explore 79 core planting options for September 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
Angelica
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Sep
How to grow angelicaHerbs
Anise
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow aniseHerbs
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)Herbs
Bee balm
Sow
Core planting window: Apr-Sep
How to grow bee balmRoots & bulbs
Beetroot
Sow
Core planting window: Feb-Nov
How to grow beetrootTropical & subtropical edibles
Bitter melon
Sow
Core planting window: Jan,Sep-Dec
How to grow bitter melonEdible flowers
Calendula
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–May, Sep–Oct
How to grow calendulaFruiting crops
Cape gooseberry
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Sep
How to grow cape gooseberryPerennial edibles
Caper bush
Sow
Core planting window: Jun-Sep
How to grow caper bushPods & fruit
Capsicum
Sow
Core planting window: Sep-Mar
How to grow capsicumHerbs
Caraway
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-Oct
How to grow carawayEdible flowers
Carnation
Sow
Core planting window: Apr-Oct
How to grow carnationRoots & bulbs
Carrot
Sow
Core planting window: All year
How to grow carrotHerbs
Chamomile
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Sep
How to grow chamomileHerbs
Chervil
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Sep
How to grow chervilPods & fruit
Chilli
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Dec
How to grow chilliHerbs
Chives
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–Apr, Sep–Dec
How to grow chivesPods & fruit
Choko
Plant sprouted fruit / nursery stock
Core planting window: Sep–Oct
How to grow chokoLegumes
Climbing beans
Sow
Core planting window: Jan, Sep–Dec
How to grow climbing beansHerbs
Coriander
Sow
Core planting window: Jul-Sep
How to grow corianderEdible flowers
Cornflower
Sow
Core planting window: Apr-Oct
How to grow cornflowerPods & fruit
Cucumber
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Feb
How to grow cucumberHerbs
Cumin
Sow
Core planting window: Sep-Nov
How to grow cuminEdible flowers
Dahlia
Sow
Core planting window: Apr-Sep
How to grow dahliaHerbs
Dandelion
Sow
Core planting window: Apr-Sep
How to grow dandelionFruit
Dragon fruit
Plant rooted cutting / nursery stock
Core planting window: Sep–Nov
How to grow dragon fruitPods & fruit
Edamame
Sow direct
Core planting window: Sep–Nov
How to grow edamamePods & fruit
Eggplant
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Jan
How to grow eggplantHerbs
Fenugreek
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-Nov
How to grow fenugreekEdible 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 cressPerennial edibles
Globe artichoke
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Nov
How to grow globe artichokeHerbs
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 plantRoots & tubers
Jicama
Sow direct
Core planting window: Sep–Oct
How to grow jicamaPods & fruit
Lablab
Sow direct
Core planting window: Sep–Nov
How to grow lablabHerbs
Lavender
Sow
Core planting window: Apr-Sep
How to grow lavenderRoots & bulbs
Leek
Sow
Core planting window: Feb-Apr, Jul-Sep
How to grow leekLeafy & brassicas
Lettuce
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-Sep
How to grow lettuceLegumes
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
Luffa
Sow
Core planting window: Sep–Oct
How to grow luffaRoots & bulbs
Mangel wurzel
Sow
Core planting window: Feb-Oct
How to grow mangel wurzelHerbs
Meadowsweet
Sow
Core planting window: Apr-Sep
How to grow meadowsweetLeafy greens
Mustard greens
Sow
Core planting window: All year
How to grow mustard greensEdible 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 oreganoFruit
Papaya
Plant nursery stock
Core planting window: Sep–Nov
How to grow papayaRoots & bulbs
Parsnip
Sow
Core planting window: Jul–Sep
How to grow parsnipBerries & compact fruit
Passionfruit
Sow
Core planting window: Sep-Dec
How to grow passionfruitLegumes
Peanut
Sow
Core planting window: Sep-Dec
How to grow peanutHerbs
Perilla
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-Apr,Aug-Oct
How to grow perillaPods & fruit
Pigeon pea
Sow direct
Core planting window: Sep–Nov
How to grow pigeon peaHerbs
Plantain
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow plantainRoots & bulbs
Potato
Plant tubers
Core planting window: Aug-Dec
How to grow potatoPods & fruit
Pumpkin
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Dec
How to grow pumpkinLeafy 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 radishPerennial edibles
Rhubarb
Plant crowns / divisions
Core planting window: Aug–Sep
How to grow rhubarbFruiting crops
Rockmelon
Sow
Core planting window: Sep–Oct
How to grow rockmelonTropical & subtropical edibles
Rosella
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Mar,Sep-Dec
How to grow rosellaHerbs
Sage
Sow
Core planting window: Sep–Dec
How to grow sageHerbs
Salad burnet
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-Sep
How to grow salad burnetLeafy & brassicas
Silverbeet
Sow
Core planting window: Feb-Nov
How to grow silverbeetLeafy greens
Sorrel
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-May,Sep-Nov
How to grow sorrelLeafy & brassicas
Spinach
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-Oct
How to grow spinachFruiting crops
Squash
Sow
Core planting window: Sep
How to grow squashHerbs
Stinging nettle
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-Sep
How to grow stinging nettleEdible 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 cornBerries & compact fruit
Tamarillo
Sow
Core planting window: Jul-Oct
How to grow tamarilloPods & fruit
Tomato
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-Sep
How to grow tomatoLeafy 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 watermelonLegumes
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 burdockLeafy greens
Corn salad
Sow
Core planting window: Apr–May
How to grow corn saladLeafy greens
Endive
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–Apr
How to grow endiveRoots & bulbs
Kohlrabi
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–May, Aug
How to grow kohlrabiHerbs
Lemon balm
Sow
Core planting window: Oct
How to grow lemon balmLeafy greens
Mizuna
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–May
How to grow mizunaFruiting crops
Okra
Sow
Core planting window: Oct–Nov
How to grow okraHerbs
Parsley
Sow
Core planting window: May
How to grow parsleyLeafy greens
Rocket
Sow
Core planting window: Apr–May
How to grow rocketHerbs
Rosemary
Sow
Core planting window: Oct–Nov
How to grow rosemaryLegumes
Snow peas
Sow
Core planting window: Apr–Jul
How to grow snow peasHerbs
Thyme
Sow
Core planting window: Aug
How to grow thymeRoots & bulbs
Turnip
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–May
How to grow turnipIn the garden in September
Use these jobs when the stated conditions apply in your garden.
Prepare for rising heat
Test irrigation, restore thin mulch and arrange shade for vulnerable beds before summer demand climbs.
When this applies: Increase protection or watering only as conditions require.
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