What to Plant in October, Canberra & ACT
51 crops you can sow in October across Canberra & ACT.
In Season This Month
Fruit (11)
Cape Gooseberry
Finger Lime
Jaboticaba
Loquat
Lychee
Mandarin
Midyim Berry
Passionfruit
Pepino
Pineapple
TamarilloHerb (11)
Fruiting (10)
Beans (bush)
Choko
Cucumber
Luffa
Pumpkin
Rockmelon
Scarlet Runner Bean
Sweet Corn
Watermelon
ZucchiniFlower (6)
Leafy (4)
Micro (4)
Root (3)
Mushroom (2)
All October Crops at a Glance
| Plant | Category | Harvest | Spacing | Companions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Alyssum | Flower | 55d | 20cm | Lettuce, Brassicas, Beans |
 Amaranth | Leafy | 30d | 30cm | Corn, Onion |
 Basil | Herb | 65d | 25cm | Tomato, Capsicum, Oregano |
 Bay Laurel | Herb | 365d | 200cm | — |
| Beans (bush) | Fruiting | 65d | 20cm | Corn, Carrot, Cucumber |
 Beetroot | Root | 65d | 10cm | Lettuce, Onion, Brassicas |
 Broccoli Sprouts | Micro | 7d | 1cm | — |
| Cape Gooseberry | Fruit | 90d | 60cm | Tomato, Basil |
 Carrot | Root | 85d | 5cm | Lettuce, Onion, Leek |
 Chives | Herb | 75d | 15cm | Carrot, Tomato |
| Choko | Fruiting | 120d | 200cm | — |
 Comfrey | Flower | 60d | 60cm | Tomato, Potato, Fruit trees |
| Cucumber | Fruiting | 60d | 50cm | Beans, Corn, Nasturtium |
| Finger Lime | Fruit | 1095d | 300cm | — |
| Jaboticaba | Fruit | 2555d | 400cm | Tropical fruit trees |
 Lemon Balm | Herb | 60d | 30cm | Tomato, Brassicas, Fruit trees |
 Lemon Verbena | Herb | 90d | 100cm | Tomato, Beans |
 Lettuce | Leafy | 55d | 25cm | Carrot, Radish, Chives |
| Loquat | Fruit | 1095d | 400cm | Fruit trees |
| Luffa | Fruiting | 120d | 150cm | Beans, Corn |
| Lychee | Fruit | 1825d | 1000cm | — |
| Mandarin | Fruit | 1095d | 400cm | Nasturtium, Marigold |
 Marigold | Flower | 50d | 25cm | Tomato, Beans, Capsicum |
| Midyim Berry | Fruit | 365d | 100cm | Native plants, Lemon myrtle |
 Mint | Herb | 70d | 30cm | Cabbage, Tomato |
 Nasturtium | Flower | 50d | 30cm | Cucumber, Zucchini, Pumpkin |
 Native Violet | Flower | 90d | 20cm | Native plants, Ferns |
 Oregano | Herb | 90d | 30cm | Capsicum, Tomato |
 Oyster Mushroom | Mushroom | 21d | — | — |
 Parsley | Herb | 80d | 20cm | Tomato, Carrot |
| Passionfruit | Fruit | 400d | 200cm | — |
 Pea Shoots | Micro | 12d | 1cm | — |
| Pepino | Fruit | 120d | 60cm | Tomato, Capsicum |
 Pigface | Leafy | 60d | 40cm | — |
| Pineapple | Fruit | 540d | 60cm | — |
| Pumpkin | Fruiting | 120d | 150cm | Corn, Beans, Nasturtium |
 Radish Sprouts | Micro | 8d | 1cm | — |
| Rockmelon | Fruiting | 85d | 100cm | Corn, Nasturtium |
 Rosemary | Herb | 180d | 60cm | Sage, Carrot |
| Scarlet Runner Bean | Fruiting | 70d | 20cm | Corn, Lettuce, Radish |
 Shiitake | Mushroom | 60d | — | — |
 Silverbeet | Leafy | 60d | 30cm | Beans, Onion, Lettuce |
 Summer Savory | Herb | 60d | 20cm | Beans, Onion |
 Sunflower | Flower | 80d | 50cm | Cucumber, Corn, Tomato |
 Sunflower Microgreens | Micro | 10d | 1cm | — |
| Sweet Corn | Fruiting | 90d | 30cm | Beans, Pumpkin, Zucchini |
 Sweet Potato | Root | 150d | 50cm | Beans, Corn, Marigold |
| Tamarillo | Fruit | 540d | 300cm | — |
 Thyme | Herb | 120d | 30cm | Cabbage, Strawberry |
| Watermelon | Fruiting | 90d | 150cm | Corn, Nasturtium |
| Zucchini | Fruiting | 60d | 80cm | Nasturtium, Corn, Beans |
Print the October calendar
One-page A4 landscape PDF with every October crop for Canberra & ACT.
Download PDF →Frequently Asked Questions
What vegetables can I plant in October in Canberra?
October in Canberra is spring, so focus on crops suited to cool continental conditions at this time of year. Check the full planting list above for every vegetable, herb, and fruit you can sow or transplant this month, with spacing and harvest timing included.
When should I start planting spring crops in Canberra?
October is a great time to get spring crops in the ground in Canberra. Warm-season seedlings like tomato, capsicum, chilli, eggplant, and zucchini can go in once the risk of frost has passed. Check your last frost date and soil temperature before planting heat-lovers.
How often should I water my vegetable garden in October in Canberra?
Watering frequency depends on your soil type and weather. In October in Canberra, check the soil moisture by pushing your finger 5 centimetres into the soil. If it feels dry, water deeply. Mulch reduces watering needs significantly. Most vegetable gardens need deep watering two to three times per week rather than light daily sprinkles.
When is the last frost in Canberra and how does that affect October planting?
Canberra's last frost typically falls in mid to late October, though frost can occur into November in some years. In October, plan your planting around this date. Frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes, basil, and beans should wait until frost risk has passed. Use frost cloth to protect early plantings.