What to plant in August in New Zealand
14 vegetables, fruits and herbs to sow or plant in August in New Zealand, for the climate around Waikato, New Zealand.
Climate: Cool temperate maritime climate with frosts from May to September (coldest night 0 °C), warm summers peaking near 27 °C, and rain spread fairly evenly through the year, heaviest in summer.
Vegetables
Lettuce Lactuca sativa
Quick, cool-season greens that thrive in mild autumn and spring weather and bolt less in this temperate climate.
Harvest: 45–60 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Spinach Spinacia oleracea
Tolerates light frosts and cool, damp conditions, giving leaves through autumn and spring.
Harvest: 40–50 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Potato Solanum tuberosum
Planted after the last frosts, it grows well in this climate and stores readily in bags or beds.
Harvest: 90–120 daysEasyIn pots
Carrot Daucus carota
Deep, well-drained beds or pots suit carrots, and the mild temperatures give sweet roots.
Harvest: 70–80 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Kale Brassica oleracea
Frost-hardy and productive through winter, when many other crops stop growing.
Harvest: 60–70 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Radish Raphanus sativus
Fast, reliable crop that suits the cool shoulder seasons and fills gaps between other plantings.
Harvest: 25–35 daysEasyIn pots
Fruits
Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
Chill hours from winter frosts suit it, and it grows well in acidic, peaty containers.
Harvest: 2–3 yearsModerateIn potsCare guide →
Raspberry Rubus idaeus
Canes survive cold winters and crop reliably in summer in this temperate climate.
Harvest: 1–2 yearsEasyCare guide →
Apple Malus domestica
Needs a cold winter for dormancy and the warm summer for ripening, both of which this climate provides.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsEasyCare guide →
Plum Prunus domestica
Hardy European plum that gets enough winter chill and summer warmth to set fruit reliably.
Harvest: 3–4 yearsEasy
Feijoa Acca sellowiana
Tolerates light frosts and mild summers, and bears a heavy autumn crop with little care.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsEasy
Kiwifruit Actinidia deliciosa
The warm, rainy summers and cool winters here suit it, given a sturdy trellis and shelter from wind.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerate
Herbs
Parsley Petroselinum crispum
Frost-hardy and productive through much of the year, it is ideal for pots and garden edges.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Chives Allium schoenoprasum
Perennial and frost-hardy, chives give fresh leaves over many seasons with almost no care.
Harvest: 60–75 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →