What to plant in October in Australia
17 vegetables, fruits and herbs to sow or plant in October in Australia, for the climate around Sydney, New South Wales.
Climate: Humid subtropical, mild Southern Hemisphere climate with light frosts only in June to August (coldest night 4 °C), hot humid summers reaching 42 °C, and rain concentrated in late summer and autumn.
Vegetables
Tomato Solanum lycopersicum
Warm spring and summer days ripen fruit well, and seedlings planted after the last frost grow vigorously in Sydney sun.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Zucchini Cucurbita pepo
Summer heat and warm soil give fast, heavy yields with little care.
Harvest: 50–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Lettuce Lactuca sativa
Cool autumn and spring weather suits lettuce, and it is best avoided in the hottest months.
Harvest: 45–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Silverbeet Beta vulgaris
It tolerates both mild winters and warm summers and keeps producing leaves for months.
Harvest: 50–60 daysEasyIn pots
Bush bean Phaseolus vulgaris
Warm soil after frosts gives a quick crop of beans, and the rainy season needs little extra watering.
Harvest: 50–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Carrot Daucus carota
Sydney's mild autumn and spring give sweet roots in loose, deep containers or beds.
Harvest: 70–90 daysModerateIn potsCare guide →
Capsicum Capsicum annuum
Hot summers ripen capsicums well, and seedlings planted in spring give a long harvest.
Harvest: 70–90 daysModerateIn potsCare guide →
Cucumber Cucumis sativus
Warm summer days and mild nights give heavy yields on trellises.
Harvest: 50–70 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Fruits
Feijoa Acca sellowiana
It is a subtropical shrub that tolerates light frost and produces well in Sydney gardens.
Harvest: 3–4 yearsEasy
Lemon Citrus limon
Light frosts are tolerated, and sunny Sydney summers give plenty of heat for fruit.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsEasyIn potsCare guide →
Mandarin Citrus reticulata
It tolerates winter cold well and ripens sweet fruit in the warm autumn.
Harvest: 3–4 yearsEasyIn pots
Watermelon Citrullus lanatus
Hot summer days give sweet melons, provided the plants have space and regular water.
Harvest: 80–100 daysModerate
Passionfruit Passiflora edulis
Warm, humid summers suit passionfruit, which grows vigorously on a fence or pergola.
Harvest: 1–2 yearsModerateIn potsCare guide →
Herbs
Basil Ocimum basilicum
Hot, sunny summers give strong basil growth and it thrives in containers.
Harvest: 60–70 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Parsley Petroselinum crispum
Cool and mild seasons suit parsley, which keeps producing leaves for months.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Mint Mentha spicata
Mild weather and regular water give vigorous growth, best kept in pots.
Harvest: 60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Rosemary Salvia rosmarinus
Sydney's sunny, well-drained conditions suit this Mediterranean herb, which tolerates light frost.
Harvest: 90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →