Planting guide

What to plant in Auckland, New Zealand in September

Warm temperate · Maritime Southern Hemisphere September

September is spring in Auckland's mild maritime climate. Frosts are essentially over and the soil is warming, opening a broad planting window — maincrop potatoes go in, hardy vegetables can be direct-sown, and warm-season seedlings started now will be ready to plant out from October.

Plant now

Maincrop potatoes

September is the classic maincrop planting month; plant seed potatoes now for a summer harvest.

Lettuce, spinach, silverbeet, beetroot, carrot

Direct-sow these cool-to-warm season crops as the soil warms.

Brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower)

Plant seedlings now for a crop before the summer heat.

Peas and dwarf beans

Sow peas direct now; hold climbing beans until the soil is warmer later in spring.

Tomato, capsicum, basil (seed, under cover)

Auckland is mild, but soil isn't quite warm enough to plant tomatoes out until October — start seed now so plants are ready.

Timing notes

  • Auckland humidity rises through spring — space plants for airflow to reduce fungal problems later.
  • Warm-season crops (tomato, capsicum, basil) generally go out from October; September is for starting them and planting hardy crops.
  • Enrich beds with compost before planting the hungry summer crops that follow.
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