Living in Sydney, I created an annual growing calendar based on the city’s mild temperate climate, with warm summers and relatively mild winters. This helps me systematically manage crops from planting through to harvest according to a seasonal schedule. You can do the same for your home farming setup to get a clear overall picture before getting started.
Simple Rule for Planting Vegetables
| TYPES | BEST METHOD |
| Root vegetables | Usually direct sow |
| Fast growers | Usually direct sow |
| Sensitive warm crops** | Usually transplant seedlings |
| Brassicas | Often transplant seedlings |
** Sensitive warm crops need warm temperature and usually perform better when started as seedlings. Tomato, capsicum, chilli, eggplant, cucumber, pumpkin, zucchini, melon, sweet potato and basil are the examples of warm crops. For a head start from germination, it is better to grow seeds indoors or in trays.
Golden Rule for Growing Fruits
Healthy soil + sunlight + consistent watering = success
Most beginner fruit-growing problems come from:
- poor soil
- overwatering
- lack of sunlight
- planting unsuitable varieties
Keeping the basics simple usually gives the best results.
FULL YEAR CALENDAR
September – Early Spring
| PLANT/SOW | HARVEST | SOIL/COMPOST | OTHER TASKS |
| Tomato Capsicum Eggplant Pumpkin Sweet corn Asparagus Ginger | Broccoli Carrot Lettuce | – Heavy compost feeding – Refresh mulch layers | – Watch for aphids – Stake tomatoes early |
| Beans Banana Berries Mango Passionfruit pomegranate | Late citrus Avocado | – Feed flowering trees – Add compost tea | – Protect blossoms from pests – Encourage pollinators |
| grains & nuts: *Fast growing: wheat, oats, barley *Flowering begins: Almond, Pecan, Walnut | – Feed actively growing crops | – Monitor aphids and rust diseases |
October – Mid Spring
| PLANT/SOW | HARVEST | SOIL/COMPOST | OTHER TASKS |
| Sweet potato Cucumber Warm-Season Herbs Mushroom Ginger | Peas Lettuce Spinach | – Feed fruiting crops – Maintain even soil moisture | – Pollinator management – Weed control |
| Watermelon Melon Mango Tropical fruit seedlings | Strawberry Mulberry Loquat | – Maintain even soil moisture – Feed fruiting plants regularly | – Thin developing fruit – Install bird netting |
| Corn Sorghum Millet Rice | *New Growth: Macadamia, Walnut | – Maintain even soil moisture | – Bird protection for grain seedlings – Weed control |
November – Late Spring
| PLANT/SOW | HARVEST | SOIL/COMPOST | OTHER TASKS |
| Corn Zucchini Pumpkin Beans Mushroom | Lettuce Beetroot Early tomatoes | – Add potassium rich fertilizer for fruiting plants | – Monitor for caterpillars – Increase watering frequency |
| Banana Papaya Passionfruit | Cherry Early stone fruit Strawberry | – Add potassium-rich fertilizer – Continue mulching | – Watch for fruit fly – Increase watering frequency |
| Continue Planting Corn | Early barley Early oats *Fruit Development: Almond, Pecan, Macadamia | – Apply potassium-rich fertilizer | – Increase watering frequency |
December – Early Summer
| PLANT/SOW | HARVEST | SOIL/COMPOST | OTHER TASKS |
| Lettuce Radish Asian greens Beans | Tomato Cucumber Zucchini Capsicum Herbs | – Mulch heavily – Maintain compost moisture | – Daily heat monitoring – Harvest regularly to encourage production |
| Strawberry runners Tropical fruits in warm areas | Peach Nectarine Plum Fig Blueberry | – Mulch heavily before heatwaves – Maintain compost moisture | – Daily watering during extreme heat – Protect ripening fruit from birds |
| Wheat Barley Oats Corn | – Mulch heavily – Feed actively growing plants | – Dry grains before storage – Protect crops from birds and rodents |
January – Mid Summer
| PLANT/SOW | HARVEST | SOIL/COMPOST | OTHER TASKS |
| Cucumber Lettuce Radish Sweet corn Zucchini Beans | Tomato Capsicum Eggplant Cucumber Herbs Beans | – Apply mulch to retain moisture – Add compost tea or liquid fertilizer – Monitor soil moisture daily | – Deep watering early morning – Shade protection during heatwaves – Watch for aphids and spider mites – Tie and support tomatoes |
| Strawberry runners Passionfruit vines Banana (warm areas) | Peach Nectarine Plum Fig Blueberry Strawberry Raspberry Early apple varieties | – Mulch heavily around trees – Apply liquid seaweed fertilizer – Keep compost moist | – Deep watering during heat – Protect fruit from birds – Monitor fruit fly activity – Thin overloaded branches |
| Millet Sorghum Late corn | Early corn Macadamia begins Almond in warmer regions | – Mulch heavily – Maintain moisture during heat | – Protect corn from birds – Deep watering during hot weather |
February – Late Summer
| PLANT/SOW | HARVEST | SOIL/COMPOST | OTHER TASKS |
| Beetroot Carrot Lettuce Asian greens Beans *Broccoli *Cabbage *Cauliflower *Seedlings | Tomato Zucchini Cucumber Corn | – Turn compost pile – Add dry materials if compost is too wet | – Remove diseased foliage – Continue mulching – Prepare beds for autumn crops |
| Citrus trees Avocado Passionfruit | Fig Grapes Peach Nectarine Apple Pear | – Add compost around root zones – Maintain mulch layer | – Summer pruning of vigorous growth – Monitor fungal diseases – Net trees against birds and bats |
| Corn Millet Almond Early pecan | – Add compost after grain harvest – Turn compost pile | – Dry harvested grains thoroughly – Store grains in airtight containers |
March – Early Autumn
| PLANT/SOW | HARVEST | SOIL/COMPOST | OTHER TASKS |
| Broccoli Kale Spinach Carrot Radish Peas Mushroom | Pumpkin Tomato Capsicum Beans | – Add aged manure – Improve beds with compost | – Reduce watering gradually – Install netting against cabbage moth |
| Strawberry Citrus Blueberry Apple trees Mango | Apple Pear Grapes Passionfruit | – Add aged manure – Prepare new orchard beds | – Remove fallen fruit – Reduce watering frequency gradually |
| Prepare for Cool-Season Grains Wheat Barley Oats | Walnut Pecan Chestnut begins | – Add aged manure – Improve soil structure | – Remove crop residue – Prepare beds for sowing |
April – Mid Autumn
| PLANT/SOW | HARVEST | SOIL/COMPOST | OTHER TASKS |
| Garlic Onion Shallots Beetroot Lettuce Broad Beans Cold Season Herbs Mushroom | Pumpkin Sweet potato Late tomatoes | – Soil conditioning – Add organic matter before winter | – Clean old summer crops – Remove weeds before winter |
| Bare-root fruit trees begin Apple Pear Peach Plum Mango | Late grapes Passionfruit Citrus begins | – Add compost before winter – Improve drainage if needed | – Remove dead branches – Clean orchard floor |
| Wheat Barley Oats Rye | Chestnut Walnut Pecan | Apply compost before winter | – Protect seedlings from heavy rain – Weed management |
May – Late Autumn
| PLANT/SOW | HARVEST | SOIL/COMPOST | OTHER TASKS |
| Spinach Silverbeet Kale Garlic Peas Mushroom | Carrot Beetroot Herbs | – Add mulch for winter insulation – Start leaf composting | – Watch for slugs and snails – Protect seedlings from cold rain |
| Bare-root deciduous fruit trees Raspberry canes Blackberry | Orange Mandarin Lemon Lime | – Apply organic mulch – Add slow-release fertilizer | – Begin winter pruning planning – Remove diseased leaves |
| Continue Sowing Wheat Oats Plant Bare-root nut trees Walnut, Pecan, Almond | – Mulch around young trees | – Monitor fungal disease in wet weather |
June – Early Winter
| PLANT/SOW | HARVEST | SOIL/COMPOST | OTHER TASKS |
| Onion Garlic Broad beans Peas | Broccoli Kale Spinach Silverbeet | – Avoid overwatering – Keep compost aerated | – Prune damaged plants – Maintain drainage systems |
| Apple Pear Peach Plum Apricot Cherry | Citrus Avocado | – Add compost and manure – Improve soil structure | – Winter pruning – Spray dormant oil if needed – Repair supports and trellises |
| Hazelnut Chestnut Walnut | – Add compost around nut trees – Avoid waterlogging | – Winter pruning of nut trees – Improve drainage |
July – Mid Winter
| PLANT/SOW | HARVEST | SOIL/COMPOST | OTHER TASKS |
| Lettuce Spinach Peas Asparagus *Tomato *Capsicum *Eggplant *Seedlings indoor | Broccoli Cauliflower Cabbage | – Prepare spring beds – Add compost and worm castings | – Repair garden structures – Sharpen tools |
| Bare-root fruit trees Figtree Grapevines Berry canes | Orange Lemon Mandarin | – Test soil pH – Add lime if soil is too acidic | – Major pruning season – Remove crossing branches – Shape young trees |
| Continue Planting Bare-root nut trees | – Test soil pH | – Major pruning season – Shape young trees |
August – Late Winter
| PLANT/SOW | HARVEST | SOIL/COMPOST | OTHER TASKS |
| Potato Corn Cucumber Zucchini Beans Asparagus *Tomato *Capsicum *Basil | Kale Lettuce Peas *continue seedlings | – Test soil pH – Add balanced organic fertilizer | – Install irrigation systems – Prepare trellis supports |
| Figtree Strawberry Citrus Kiwi Passionfruit pomegranate | Late citrus Avocado | – Apply balanced fertilizer – Refresh mulch | – Prepare irrigation systems – Monitor early pest activity |
| Macadamia Almond | – Apply balanced Fertilize: Wheat, Barley, Oats – Refresh mulch | – Prepare irrigation systems |
(Source: chatGPT)