Australian planting calendar
What to plant in September in a Subtropical garden
Explore 98 core planting options for September in the Subtropical 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.
Edible flowers
Alyssum
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Apr,Aug-Dec
How to grow alyssumLeafy greens
Amaranth
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–Mar, Aug–Dec
How to grow amaranthHerbs
Angelica
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Nov
How to grow angelicaHerbs
Anise
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow aniseHerbs
Basil
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Feb
How to grow basilPods & fruit
Beans (bush/French)
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Apr
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,Aug-Dec
How to grow bitter melonHerbs
Borage
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Nov
How to grow borageRoots & bulbs
Burdock
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–May, Aug–Dec
How to grow burdockLeafy & brassicas
Cabbage
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-Oct
How to grow cabbageFruiting crops
Cape gooseberry
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–Mar, Jul–Dec
How to grow cape gooseberryPods & fruit
Capsicum
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Feb
How to grow capsicumHerbs
Caraway
Sow
Core planting window: Feb-Nov
How to grow carawayEdible flowers
Carnation
Sow
Core planting window: Apr-Oct
How to grow carnationRoots & bulbs
Carrot
Sow
Core planting window: Feb-Nov
How to grow carrotRoots & tubers
Cassava
Plant cuttings
Core planting window: Sep–Nov
How to grow cassavaVegetables
Celery
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–Apr, Aug–Sep
How to grow celeryHerbs
Chamomile
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-Oct
How to grow chamomileHerbs
Chervil
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-Sep
How to grow chervilPods & fruit
Chilli
Sow
Core planting window: Jul-Mar
How to grow chilliHerbs
Chives
Sow
Core planting window: All year
How to grow chivesPods & fruit
Choko
Plant sprouted fruit / nursery stock
Core planting window: Aug–Oct
How to grow chokoLegumes
Climbing beans
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–Mar, Aug–Dec
How to grow climbing beansLeafy greens
Corn salad
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–May, Sep–Nov
How to grow corn saladPods & fruit
Cucumber
Sow
Core planting window: Jul-Mar
How to grow cucumberHerbs
Cumin
Sow
Core planting window: Sep-Nov
How to grow cuminEdible flowers
Dahlia
Sow
Core planting window: Jun-Oct
How to grow dahliaHerbs
Dandelion
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Sep-Dec
How to grow dandelionFruit
Dragon fruit
Plant rooted cutting / nursery stock
Core planting window: Sep–Apr
How to grow dragon fruitPods & fruit
Edamame
Sow direct
Core planting window: Aug–Mar
How to grow edamamePods & fruit
Eggplant
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Mar
How to grow eggplantHerbs
Fennel
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Sep
How to grow fennelHerbs
Fenugreek
Sow
Core planting window: Mar-Nov
How to grow fenugreekEdible flowers
French marigold
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–Feb, Jul–Dec
How to grow french marigoldRoots & tubers
Galangal
Plant rhizome division / nursery stock
Core planting window: Sep–Nov
How to grow galangalLeafy 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,Aug-Dec
How to grow ice plantRoots & tubers
Jicama
Sow direct
Core planting window: Aug–Nov
How to grow jicamaPods & fruit
Lablab
Sow direct
Core planting window: Aug–Mar
How to grow lablabHerbs
Lavender
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Aug-Dec
How to grow lavenderRoots & bulbs
Leek
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Apr, Aug-Sep
How to grow leekHerbs
Lemon balm
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Oct
How to grow lemon balmLeafy & brassicas
Lettuce
Sow
Core planting window: All year
How to grow lettuceLegumes
Lima bean
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Apr,Aug-Dec
How to grow lima beanHerbs
Liquorice root
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Aug-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: Jan, Aug–Dec
How to grow luffaLeafy greens
Malabar spinach
Sow direct / transplant seedlings
Core planting window: Sep–Mar
How to grow malabar spinachRoots & bulbs
Mangel wurzel
Sow
Core planting window: Feb-Oct
How to grow mangel wurzelHerbs
Marshmallow
Sow
Core planting window: Feb-Oct
How to grow marshmallowHerbs
Meadowsweet
Sow
Core planting window: Feb-Oct
How to grow meadowsweetHerbs
Mint
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Nov
How to grow mintPods & fruit
Mung bean
Sow direct
Core planting window: Sep–Feb
How to grow mung beanLeafy greens
Mustard greens
Sow
Core planting window: All year
How to grow mustard greensEdible flowers
Nasturtium
Sow
Core planting window: Feb–Sep
How to grow nasturtiumFruiting crops
Okra
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–Feb, Aug–Dec
How to grow okraHerbs
Oregano
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–Apr, Aug–Oct
How to grow oreganoFruit
Papaya
Plant nursery stock
Core planting window: Sep–Mar
How to grow papayaRoots & bulbs
Parsnip
Sow
Core planting window: Jun–Sep
How to grow parsnipBerries & compact fruit
Passionfruit
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Nov
How to grow passionfruitLegumes
Peanut
Sow
Core planting window: Jan,Aug-Dec
How to grow peanutHerbs
Perilla
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Nov
How to grow perillaPods & fruit
Pigeon pea
Sow direct
Core planting window: Aug–Mar
How to grow pigeon peaHerbs
Plantain
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Mar,Aug-Dec
How to grow plantainRoots & bulbs
Potato
Plant tubers
Core planting window: May-Sep
How to grow potatoPods & fruit
Pumpkin
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Mar
How to grow pumpkinLeafy greens
Purslane
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Mar,Aug-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 rhubarbLeafy greens
Rocket
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–Oct
How to grow rocketFruiting crops
Rockmelon
Sow
Core planting window: Jan, Aug–Dec
How to grow rockmelonTropical & subtropical edibles
Rosella
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Feb,Aug-Dec
How to grow rosellaHerbs
Rosemary
Sow
Core planting window: Sep–Oct
How to grow rosemaryHerbs
Sage
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Nov
How to grow sageHerbs
Salad burnet
Sow
Core planting window: Feb-Oct
How to grow salad burnetLeafy & brassicas
Silverbeet
Sow
Core planting window: All year
How to grow silverbeetLeafy greens
Sorrel
Sow
Core planting window: Apr-Jun,Aug-Oct
How to grow sorrelFruiting crops
Squash
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–Feb, Aug–Dec
How to grow squashHerbs
Stinging nettle
Sow
Core planting window: Jul-Nov
How to grow stinging nettleHerbs
Summer savory
Sow
Core planting window: Sep–Oct
How to grow summer savoryEdible flowers
Sunflower
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–May, Aug–Dec
How to grow sunflowerPods & fruit
Sweet corn
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Feb
How to grow sweet cornHerbs
Sweet marjoram
Sow
Core planting window: Sep–Oct
How to grow sweet marjoramBerries & compact fruit
Tamarillo
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Dec
How to grow tamarilloHerbs
Thyme
Sow
Core planting window: Jul–Oct
How to grow thymeFruiting crops
Tomatillo
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Oct
How to grow tomatilloPods & fruit
Tomato
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Mar
How to grow tomatoRoots & tubers
Turmeric
Plant rhizomes
Core planting window: Sep–Nov
How to grow turmericRoots & bulbs
Turnip
Sow
Core planting window: Jan–May, Aug–Dec
How to grow turnipLeafy greens
Warrigal greens
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Nov
How to grow warrigal greensHerbs
Water pepper
Sow
Core planting window: Aug-Oct
How to grow water pepperFruiting crops
Watermelon
Sow
Core planting window: Aug–Nov
How to grow watermelonLegumes
Yardlong bean
Sow
Core planting window: Jan-Apr,Aug-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.
Edible flowers
Calendula
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–Jun
How to grow calendulaRoots & bulbs
Celeriac
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–Apr, Aug
How to grow celeriacLeafy greens
Chinese cabbage
Sow
Core planting window: Jul–Aug
How to grow chinese cabbageHerbs
Dill
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–May, Jul–Aug
How to grow dillLeafy greens
Mizuna
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–May
How to grow mizunaHerbs
Parsley
Sow
Core planting window: Mar–May
How to grow parsleyIn the garden in September
Use these jobs when the stated conditions apply in your garden.
Review your organic mulch
Check whether organic mulch has broken down and needs replenishing. Choose a suitable material and keep it clear of stems.
When this applies: Top up only where needed. Fine mulch can compact and block water; do not automatically add a thick layer.
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
Check and top up garden mulch
When cover has thinned or bare soil needs protection. Assess what is already there before adding another layer.
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: Mulching
© The State of Queensland. Adapted and abridged; sourced 17 September 2026. No endorsement implied.
CC BY 4.0 - Waterwise gardening: Watering
© The State of Queensland. Adapted and abridged; sourced 17 September 2026. No endorsement implied.
CC BY 4.0