Garden Guide

Garden Guide for Sydney, New South Wales Coastal Region

Sydney enjoys a humid subtropical climate (USDA Hardiness Zone 11b) with mild winters and warm to hot summers. Soils vary but are often loamy or sandy and benefit greatly from added organic matter. High humidity and a frost-free environment makes year-round gardening possible.

In Sydney (Zone 11b), you can garden all year round thanks to our practically frost-free climate. For leafy greens like lettuce, sowing from September to February is ideal. You can start tomato seedlings (salad tomatoes) indoors from August to September for a harvest from December to March. For courgettes, it's best to start them indoors from September to October to harvest from December to March.

Zone 11b Frost-free Subtropical

There is practically no frost in Sydney. You can garden year-round, the calendar shows the most reliable growing windows.

Also applies to: Newcastle, Wollongong, Central Coast, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour

Plan your Sydney garden in the Fryd app

Planting Calendar

When to start indoors, sow outdoors, and harvest in Sydney. Frost-free climate: the windows are a guide, many crops can be sown beyond them too.

Light Water Nutrients

Start indoors Sowing Harvest

Planting calendar for Sydney, Zone 11b
Crop	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Tomato (Bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Pepper / Paprika ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Cucumber / Gherkin ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Courgette / Zucchini ●●● ●●● ●●●
Bean (Dwarf bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Bean (Runner bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Sweet potato ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Aubergine / Eggplant ●●● ●●● ●●●
Basil ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Chili ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Lettuce (Lettuce) ●●○ ●●○ ●●○
Chard ●●○ ●●○ ●●○
Spinach (Summer) ●○○ ●●● ●●○
Melon (Watermelon) ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Melon (Sugar melon) ●●● ●●● ●●●
Strawberry ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Garlic ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Onion ●●● ●●○ ●●○
Onion (Spring onion) ●●● ●●○ ●●○

Tomato (Bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Pepper / Paprika ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Cucumber / Gherkin ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Courgette / Zucchini ●●● ●●● ●●●

Bean (Dwarf bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Bean (Runner bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Sweet potato ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Aubergine / Eggplant ●●● ●●● ●●●

Basil ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Chili ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Lettuce (Lettuce) ●●○ ●●○ ●●○

Chard ●●○ ●●○ ●●○

Spinach (Summer) ●○○ ●●● ●●○

Melon (Watermelon) ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Melon (Sugar melon) ●●● ●●● ●●●

Strawberry ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Garlic ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Onion ●●● ●●○ ●●○

Onion (Spring onion) ●●● ●●○ ●●○

Planting Calendar Sydney

Tomato (Bush tomato): Start indoors Aug - Sep, Sowing Oct - Nov, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato): Start indoors Aug - Sep, Sowing Oct - Nov, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Pepper / Paprika: Start indoors Jul - Aug, Sowing Oct - Nov, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Cucumber / Gherkin: Start indoors Sep - Oct, Sowing Oct - Nov, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Courgette / Zucchini: Start indoors Sep - Oct, Sowing Oct - Nov, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: high, Nutrients: high)
Bean (Dwarf bean): Start indoors Sep - Oct, Sowing Oct - Dec, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Bean (Runner bean): Start indoors Sep - Oct, Sowing Oct - Dec, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Sweet potato: Start indoors Sep - Oct, Sowing Oct - Nov, Harvest Feb - Mar (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Aubergine / Eggplant: Start indoors Aug - Oct, Sowing Oct - Nov, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: high, Nutrients: high)
Basil: Start indoors Aug - Dec, Sowing Oct - Dec, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Chili: Start indoors Jun - Aug, Sowing Oct - Dec, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Lettuce (Lettuce): Start indoors Jan - Dec, Sowing Jan - Dec, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: medium, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Chard: Start indoors Jun - Sep, Sowing Sep - Nov, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: medium, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Spinach (Summer): Sowing Aug - Oct, Harvest Sep - Dec (Light: low, Water: high, Nutrients: medium)
Melon (Watermelon): Start indoors Sep - Oct, Sowing Oct - Nov, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Melon (Sugar melon): Start indoors Aug - Oct, Sowing Oct - Dec, Harvest Jan - Mar (Light: high, Water: high, Nutrients: high)
Strawberry: Start indoors Jul - Oct, Sowing Aug - Nov, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Garlic: Sowing Feb - Apr, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Onion: Start indoors Jun - Jul, Sowing Aug - Sep, Harvest Jan - Dec (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Onion (Spring onion): Start indoors Jan - Dec, Sowing Feb - May, Harvest May - Sep (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)

Based on Fryd planting data for Zone 11b, 2026.

Companion Planting for Sydney

Plants that thrive together in New South Wales Coastal Region.

Onion + Tomato (Bush tomato)

Onion + Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato)

Garlic + Pepper / Paprika

Cucumber / Gherkin + Pepper / Paprika

Lettuce (Lettuce) + Cucumber / Gherkin

Plan companions visually

Drag and drop crops in the Fryd bed planner to see companion matches.

Try Fryd →

Growing Tips for Sydney

Make the Most of Sunny Spots

Many plants like onions, strawberries, and cucumbers absolutely love full sun. For these crops, choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for the best yields. Make sure your soil has good drainage, especially if it's on the heavier, clay side.

Mind Your Watering Needs

Pay attention to each plant's individual watering needs. While summer spinach and courgettes prefer 'very moist' conditions, others like garlic are happy with just 'moist' soil. Consistent watering is key to preventing stress and encouraging healthy, happy plants.

Create Nutrient-Rich Soil

Heavy feeders like tomatoes, cucumbers, and courgettes need nutrient-rich, loose soil to thrive. Before planting, dig in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure to create a great foundation. Regular feeding during the growing season is also super important.

Give Tender Crops a Head Start

Cold-sensitive plants like aubergines, capsicums, and melons really benefit from being started indoors. Begin with capsicums in August, and aubergines and melons in September or October, in a protected spot to get strong seedlings. This way, you'll ensure they're robust enough when you plant them out in November.

Common Pests & Diseases

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Tackling Aphids

Aphids are tiny, often green or black insects that love to gather on young shoots and the undersides of leaves. For a light infestation, you can simply blast them off with a strong spray of water or use a soapy water solution. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybirds, who are natural aphid predators!

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Keeping Snails and Slugs in Check

Snails and slugs just love munching on young leaves and seedlings, especially after rain. You can hand-pick them in the evening or set out beer traps. A snail collar or a barrier made of crushed eggshells or coffee grounds can also help keep them away from your precious plants.

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Preventing Fungal Diseases

Fungal diseases like powdery mildew or blight often pop up when humidity is high. Make sure there's good air circulation between your plants and always water the soil around the roots, not the leaves. Remove any affected plant parts immediately to stop them from spreading.

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Controlling Fruit Flies

Fruit flies can be a real nuisance, especially around ripe fruits and veg. Harvest ripe produce regularly and promptly remove any fallen fruit to avoid attracting them. Yellow sticky traps can help you monitor and reduce their numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Sydney?

For salad tomatoes and smaller-fruited varieties, it's best to start your seedlings indoors from August to September. You can then expect to harvest from December to March once your plants are strong enough.

What climate zone is Sydney in, and what does that mean for my garden?

Sydney is in USDA Hardiness Zone 11b, which means we have a subtropical climate with mild winters. This allows for year-round growing of many crops, as we practically never get frost.

Which vegetables grow particularly well in Sydney?

Many warm-loving plants like courgettes, aubergines, cucumbers, and melons absolutely thrive here. Swiss chard, leafy greens (like lettuce), and strawberries are also popular and productive crops for Sydney.

Does Sydney get frost that could harm my plants?

Nope, Sydney is practically frost-free! You don't need to worry about late frosts, which means you can grow cold-sensitive plants like beans or basil for most of the year.