Regions

Frost dates and planting calendars by region

Each page covers one region and holds the figures a gardener there plans around: the first frost of autumn, the last frost of spring, how reliable the frost is and which season brings the rain. A link on each page opens the planting almanac set to that region.

Every figure comes from a named source, and the sources are listed at the foot of each page. A frost date is an average and not a promise, so treat it as the middle of a range and watch the weather where you garden.

South Africa

HighveldSummer rainfall, dry winters and reliable frost from June to August. Gauteng, the Free State and the higher parts of Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape.Reliable frost, summer rainfall
Lowveld and coastal KwaZulu-NatalSubtropical summer rainfall, frost free or nearly so, with a hot humid summer. The Lowveld, the KwaZulu-Natal coast and the warm coastal Eastern Cape.No frost, summer rainfall
Western Cape winter rainfallMediterranean. The rain falls in winter and the summer is long, dry and windy, so the cool months are the main growing season.Light frost some years, winter rainfall
Arid interiorThe Karoo, the Northern Cape and the dry continental interior. Very hot summers, cold nights, little rain and a narrow window at each end of the year.Reliable frost, low rainfall

Australia

Australia, cool and mountainMild or warm summers and cold winters with frost. Tasmania, the Northern and Southern Tablelands of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.Reliable frost, rain all year
Australia, temperateWarm summers and cool winters. Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and the coastal south east.Light frost some years, rain all year
Australia, subtropicalWarm humid summers with reliable summer rain and low winter rainfall, frost rare. South east Queensland and northern New South Wales.Light frost some years, summer rainfall
Australia, tropicalA wet season and a dry season rather than four seasons, and no frost. The top end from Exmouth to south of Townsville, where most vegetables are grown in the dry.No frost, summer rainfall
Australia, aridVery high summer temperatures, very high evaporation and prolonged drought. The dry inland.Light frost some years, low rainfall

New Zealand

New Zealand, northernNorthland, Auckland and the warm north. Nearly frost free, so the season starts earliest and runs latest.Light frost some years, rain all year
New Zealand, middleWaikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Wellington and the warmer coastal north of the South Island.Reliable frost, rain all year
New Zealand, southernCanterbury, Otago and Southland, and the inland high country. A short season with late spring frosts.Reliable frost, rain all year