What to Plant in December, Darwin & Top End
68 crops you can sow in December across Darwin & Top End.
In Season This Month
Fruit (20)
Banana
Black Sapote
Custard Apple
Davidson Plum
Dragon Fruit
Guava
Jaboticaba
Jackfruit
Kakadu Plum
Longan
Loquat
Mandarin
Mango
Midyim Berry
Passionfruit
Pawpaw
Pineapple
Rambutan
Star Fruit
TamarilloFruiting (17)
Bitter Melon
Capsicum
Chilli
Cucumber
Eggplant
Lablab
Luffa
Okra
Popcorn
Pumpkin
Rockmelon
Snake Beans
Sorghum
Sweet Corn
Watermelon
Winged Beans
ZucchiniHerb (13)
Basil
Bay Laurel
Chives
Curry Leaf
Galangal
Lemon Myrtle
Lemon Verbena
Lemongrass
Native Ginger
Parsley
Shiso (Perilla)
Vietnamese Coriander
Vietnamese MintLeafy (7)
Micro (4)
Root (3)
Flower (2)
Mushroom (2)
All December Crops at a Glance
| Plant | Category | Harvest | Spacing | Companions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Amaranth | Leafy | 30d | 30cm | Corn, Onion |
| Banana | Fruit | 450d | 300cm | Sweet potato |
| Basil | Herb | 65d | 25cm | Tomato, Capsicum, Oregano |
| Bay Laurel | Herb | 365d | 200cm | — |
| Bitter Melon | Fruiting | 70d | 100cm | Corn, Beans |
| Black Sapote | Fruit | 1825d | 800cm | Tropical fruit trees |
 Brazilian Spinach | Leafy | 60d | 40cm | — |
 Broccoli Sprouts | Micro | 7d | 1cm | — |
| Capsicum | Fruiting | 100d | 45cm | Basil, Tomato, Carrot |
| Chilli | Fruiting | 90d | 45cm | Basil, Tomato, Carrot |
| Chives | Herb | 75d | 15cm | Carrot, Tomato |
| Cucumber | Fruiting | 60d | 50cm | Beans, Corn, Nasturtium |
| Curry Leaf | Herb | 365d | 200cm | — |
| Custard Apple | Fruit | 1095d | 600cm | — |
| Davidson Plum | Fruit | 1095d | 400cm | Native plants |
| Dragon Fruit | Fruit | 540d | 200cm | — |
| Eggplant | Fruiting | 100d | 60cm | Beans, Marigold, Thyme |
| Galangal | Herb | 300d | 60cm | Chilli, Lemongrass |
| Guava | Fruit | 540d | 400cm | — |
 Hibiscus | Flower | 120d | 150cm | Tropical plants |
| Jaboticaba | Fruit | 2555d | 400cm | Tropical fruit trees |
| Jackfruit | Fruit | 1460d | 1000cm | Tropical fruit trees |
| Kakadu Plum | Fruit | 1825d | 600cm | Native plants |
 Kang Kong | Leafy | 45d | 20cm | — |
| Lablab | Fruiting | 70d | 30cm | Corn, Sunflower |
| Lemon Myrtle | Herb | 365d | 300cm | Native plants, Finger lime |
| Lemon Verbena | Herb | 90d | 100cm | Tomato, Beans |
| Lemongrass | Herb | 180d | 80cm | — |
| Longan | Fruit | 1460d | 800cm | Lychee, Mango |
| Loquat | Fruit | 1095d | 400cm | Fruit trees |
| Luffa | Fruiting | 120d | 150cm | Beans, Corn |
 Malabar Spinach | Leafy | 50d | 40cm | Corn, Beans |
| Mandarin | Fruit | 1095d | 400cm | Nasturtium, Marigold |
| Mango | Fruit | 1095d | 800cm | — |
| Midyim Berry | Fruit | 365d | 100cm | Native plants, Lemon myrtle |
| Native Ginger | Herb | 365d | 60cm | Native plants, Davidson plum |
| Okra | Fruiting | 75d | 40cm | Basil, Capsicum |
 Oyster Mushroom | Mushroom | 21d | — | — |
| Parsley | Herb | 80d | 20cm | Tomato, Carrot |
| Passionfruit | Fruit | 400d | 200cm | — |
| Pawpaw | Fruit | 300d | 200cm | — |
 Pea Shoots | Micro | 12d | 1cm | — |
 Pigface | Leafy | 60d | 40cm | — |
| Pineapple | Fruit | 540d | 60cm | — |
| Popcorn | Fruiting | 120d | 30cm | Beans, Pumpkin, Lettuce |
| Pumpkin | Fruiting | 120d | 150cm | Corn, Beans, Nasturtium |
 Radish Sprouts | Micro | 8d | 1cm | — |
| Rambutan | Fruit | 1825d | 800cm | Tropical fruit trees |
| Rockmelon | Fruiting | 85d | 100cm | Corn, Nasturtium |
 Shiitake | Mushroom | 60d | — | — |
| Shiso (Perilla) | Herb | 50d | 30cm | Eggplant, Tomato |
| Snake Beans | Fruiting | 55d | 20cm | Carrot, Corn |
| Sorghum | Fruiting | 120d | 15cm | Cowpea, Beans |
| Star Fruit | Fruit | 730d | 600cm | — |
 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 | — |
 Taro | Root | 270d | 60cm | — |
| Vietnamese Coriander | Herb | 40d | 30cm | Chilli, Eggplant |
| Vietnamese Mint | Herb | 60d | 30cm | — |
 Warrigal Greens | Leafy | 60d | 60cm | — |
 Water Chestnut | Root | 180d | 30cm | Kangkong, Taro |
 Water Morning Glory | Leafy | 30d | 20cm | Kangkong, Taro |
| Watermelon | Fruiting | 90d | 150cm | Corn, Nasturtium |
| Winged Beans | Fruiting | 65d | 30cm | Corn, Sweet potato, Basil |
| Zucchini | Fruiting | 60d | 80cm | Nasturtium, Corn, Beans |
Print the December calendar
One-page A4 landscape PDF with every December crop for Darwin & Top End.
Download PDF →Frequently Asked Questions
What vegetables can I plant in December in Darwin?
December in Darwin is wet season, so focus on crops suited to tropical 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.
How do I protect my garden from heavy rain in December in Darwin?
December falls during the wet season in Darwin. Raise garden beds to improve drainage, mulch heavily to prevent soil splash and erosion, and choose heat-tolerant varieties. Water early in the morning and watch for fungal diseases in humid conditions.
How often should I water my vegetable garden in December in Darwin?
Watering frequency depends on your soil type and weather. In December in Darwin, 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.
What pests should I watch for in my Darwin garden in December?
Darwin's tropical climate supports year-round pest pressure. Watch for fruit fly, whitefly, aphids, and caterpillars. Use fine mesh netting over fruiting crops to exclude fruit fly. Encourage beneficial insects by planting companion flowers. Neem oil and pyrethrum sprays help manage soft-bodied pests. Check plants daily in the warm months.