January gardening across Australia

What to Plant in January in Australia

Pick your region below to see exactly what to sow this month.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

January across Australia

January is the height of summer across Australia. In most regions, the focus shifts to maintaining what is already growing rather than starting new crops. Water deeply and consistently, mulch heavily to keep soil cool, and harvest regularly to keep plants productive. In tropical and subtropical regions, the wet season is in full swing. In cooler regions, heat-tolerant varieties of lettuce, beans, and tomatoes are producing heavily.

Select your region above to see a personalised list, or jump to your regional January page below.

Select a region above to see your January planting list.

January Planting by Region

Jump straight to your regional January planting guide for full details, downloadable PDF calendars, and crop tables.

South East Queensland

Subtropical. Hot and humid, maintain summer crops.

Sydney & NSW

Warm temperate. Frost-free coast, cooler inland.

Northern Rivers

Subtropical. Mild winter, long growing season.

North Queensland

Tropical. Wet and hot, focus on tropical crops.

Darwin & Top End

Tropical. Wet season peak, limited planting.

Melbourne & VIC

Cool temperate. Frost likely, ideal for brassicas.

Adelaide & SA

Mediterranean. Cool wet winters, reliable greens.

Perth & WA

Mediterranean. Mild winter, broad planting window.

Hobart & Tasmania

Cool temperate. Mild summer, great growing weather.

Canberra & ACT

Cool continental. Warm days, good summer cropping.

January Gardening Tips

Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation and give plants time to absorb moisture before the heat of the day. Mulch beds to 10cm depth to keep roots cool and soil moist.

Harvest tomatoes, zucchini, beans, and cucumbers regularly. Leaving ripe fruit on the vine signals the plant to slow down production. Pick every 2-3 days for maximum yield.

In subtropical and tropical regions, this is a tough month for leafy greens. Focus on heat-tolerant varieties like kangkong, sweet potato leaves, and Malabar spinach. Hold off on lettuce and spinach until temperatures drop in March.

Track Your January Plantings

Add your January crops to the Planting Season app for harvest reminders and spacing guides tailored to your region.

Open the App →

Related Guides

How to Grow Roma Tomatoes
Mulching Guide
How to Grow Cucumbers