What to plant in September in New Zealand

14 vegetables, fruits and herbs to sow or plant in September 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 →

  • Silverbeet Beta vulgaris

    Hardy leafy crop that copes with frost and keeps producing through the mild, wet months.

    Harvest: 50–60 daysEasyIn pots

  • 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

  • Strawberry Fragaria × ananassa

    Hardy plants that survive frost and fruit well in the warm summer, and they thrive in pots and beds.

    Harvest: 60–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →

  • Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum

    Chill hours from winter frosts suit it, and it grows well in acidic, peaty containers.

    Harvest: 2–3 yearsModerateIn potsCare guide →

  • Feijoa Acca sellowiana

    Tolerates light frosts and mild summers, and bears a heavy autumn crop with little care.

    Harvest: 3–5 yearsEasy

Herbs

  • Thyme Thymus vulgaris

    Drought tolerant and hardy in frost, it thrives in free-draining pots and sunny spots.

    Harvest: 75–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →

  • 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 →

  • Mint Mentha spicata

    Vigorous in cool, moist conditions and best kept in a container to control its spread.

    Harvest: 60–90 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 →