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.

Cooler temperatures and lower humidity make gardening more pleasant. Just as well - it is a busy season, ideal for establishing new plants and bringing excessive  growth under control. Leaves and prunings make great compost.  

Seasonal Tasks
Fertilise roses, fruit trees and lawns.
Plant sweet peas, strawberry runners, seedlings, bulbs, trees and shrubs.
Trim plants that have become too rampant over summer.
Raise the cutting height of your mower in preparation for winter.
Lift, divide, propagate and replant herbaceous perennials. 

Leopard tree, oleander, ixora, pentas & tibouchina

All Zones – alyssum, marigolds & petunia
Tropical – amaranthus, begonia, celosia, cosmos, dianthus, portulaca, salvia & zinnia
Subtropical - candytuft, cineraria, clarkia, cornflower, nemesia, pansy, phlox, statice, stock & viola
Cool Temperate – as for subtropical areas plus delphinium, godetia, hollyhock, larkspur, linaria, lupin, nigella, poppy, primula, schizanthus, sweet pea & wallflower

All Zones – carrot, cauliflower, French beans, leeks, lettuce, silver beet, spring onion & radish
Tropical –capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, potatoes, pumpkin, squash, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomatoes & zucchini
Subtropical – capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, potatoes, sweet corn, sweet potato & tomato
Cool Temperate – beetroot, broccoli, broad beans, Brussels sprout, celery, kohl rabi, parsnip & turnip 

Camellia, abutilon, gordonia, golden rain tree (Koelreuteria) & barleria

All Zones – alyssum, marigold & petunia
Tropical – amaranthus, begonia, celosia, cosmos, dianthus, portulaca, salvia & zinnia
Subtropical - calendula, candytuft, cineraria, clarkia, cornflower, dianthus, English daisy, hollyhock, kale, larkspur, lobelia, nemesia, pansy, phlox, poppy, primula, snapdragon, statice, stock, strawflower, sweet pea, sweet William & viola
Cool Temperate – as for subtropical plus delphinium, godetia, linaria,  lupin, nigella, polyanthus, schizanthus & wallflower
 

All Zones – beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, radish & spring onion

Tropical  - capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, French beans, garlic, kohl rabi, leeks, lettuce, potatoes, pumpkin, silver beet, spring onion, squash, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, zucchini
Subtropical - Brussels sprout, capsicum, endive, French beans, garlic, kohl rabi, leeks, onions, potatoes, silver beet, spinach, sweet potato & tomato
Cool Temperate –broad beans, kohl rabi, parsnip, silverbeet & turnip

Barklya, Queensland umbrella, native sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia), snow flake bush, tree daisy (Montanoea)

All Zones - alyssum, marigold & petunia
Tropical - amaranthus, begonia, cosmos, celosia, gomphrena, phlox, portulaca, salvia, sunflower, torenia & zinnia

Subtropical - calendula, candytuft, cineraria, clarkia, cornflower, dianthus, English daisy, hollyhock, kale, larkspur, lobelia, nemesia, pansy, phlox, poppy, primula, snapdragon, statice, stock, strawflower, sweet pea, sweet William & viola
Cool Temperate – as for subtropical plus delphinium, linaria, lupin, nigella, polyanthus, schizanthus, sweet pea & wallflower

All Zones – broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, kohl rabi, lettuce, radish, silver beet, spring onion & turnip
Tropical  - beetroot, French beans, garlic, leeks, potatoes, pumpkin, squash, swede, sweet corn, sweet potato & tomato
Subtropical - beetroot, broad beans, Brussels sprout, capsicum, celery, chicory, endive, French beans, garlic, leeks, onions, parsnip, peas, potatoes, spinach, swede, sweet potato& tomato
Cool temperate - Broad beans, celery, lettuce, parsnip, peas & spinach

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