November is when the summer patch starts to take shape. Across southern Australia, warmer soil opens the door to beans, corn, tomatoes and zucchini. Further north, the challenge is choosing crops that enjoy rising heat, humidity and summer rain.
If you're wondering what to plant in November in Australia, start with your climate, then look at what's happening outside. A sheltered coastal backyard and an exposed inland block can need different planting dates, even within the same zone.
Use the lists below as a starting point. Check variety recommendations and local weather before sowing, especially in frost pockets, very hot inland districts and the tropical north. You don't need to grow everything: a few vegetables you love eating, planted well, can make a generous patch.
Cool Temperate
Think Tasmania, the ACT and cooler southern or highland districts. November brings a useful summer planting window, although late frost and cold soil can still slow things down.
Leafy greens
• Lettuce, silverbeet, rocket and celery.
Roots and alliums
• Beetroot, carrots, parsnips, radish, turnips, spring onions, leeks and certified seed potatoes.
Brassicas
• Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, bok choy and Brussels sprouts; choose varieties with locally suitable maturity times.
Fruiting crops
• Tomato, capsicum, chilli and eggplant seedlings in warm, sheltered positions.
• Zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin, squash and sweet corn once frost risk has passed and soil has warmed.
Legumes
• Bush beans and climbing beans.
Herbs
• Parsley, chives, dill, oregano and thyme; basil once nights are warm.
For the long-season fruiting crops, sturdy seedlings offer a more useful head start than starting seed late in a cold district. Choose early-maturing varieties where summer is short. Harden seedlings off gradually before transplanting.
Start under cover: cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin and squash can be raised in individual pots if beds are still cold. Give them bright light and plant out young once conditions suit; a heated, dim windowsill produces weak plants.
Warm Temperate
Think coastal NSW and other mild temperate districts. With spring growth gathering pace, aim for a mix of quick harvests and summer crops.
Leafy greens
• Heat-tolerant loose-leaf lettuce, silverbeet and Warrigal greens.
Roots and alliums
• Beetroot, carrots, radish, spring onions and leeks.
Fruiting crops
• Tomatoes, capsicums, chillies, eggplants, cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn, watermelon and rockmelon.
Legumes
• Bush beans and climbing beans.
Herbs
• Basil, parsley, chives, dill, oregano and thyme; mint in a container.
Sow beans where they'll grow and put climbing supports in first. Plant corn in a block of several short rows to improve pollination. Leave sprawling pumpkins and melons enough room rather than squeezing them between smaller plants.
Start in punnets: lettuce and basil are convenient choices for a bright, sheltered outdoor nursery. Tomato, capsicum, chilli and eggplant seedlings are a practical option for filling beds now. Most warm coastal gardens don't need indoor heat for November sowing.
Mediterranean
Think Perth, Adelaide and districts with hot, dry summers. November planting is about establishing crops while reliable watering can still help them settle before the strongest heat.
Leafy greens
• Silverbeet, Warrigal greens and heat-tolerant lettuce with afternoon protection.
Roots and alliums
• Carrots, beetroot, spring onions and leeks.
Fruiting crops
• Tomatoes, capsicums, chillies, eggplants, zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn, watermelon and rockmelon.
Legumes
• Bush beans and climbing beans.
Herbs
• Basil, parsley, chives, oregano, thyme and mint.
Have irrigation working before you plant. Water seedlings in thoroughly, then mulch around established plants, keeping the stems clear. Keep direct-sown seed rows free of thick mulch until seedlings emerge.
Start in punnets: basil and lettuce can be raised in bright filtered light. Use established seedlings for slow-growing eggplants and capsicums if you'd like earlier harvests. On sandy soils, smaller plantings that you can water consistently are easier to manage than a large thirsty patch.
Arid
Think dry inland districts, including both hot central areas and cooler southern semi-arid gardens. This is the broadest zone in the guide: November in Alice Springs is a much tougher establishment window than November in Mildura.
Fruiting crops — southern semi-arid districts
• Watermelon, rockmelon, pumpkin, cucumber, zucchini, squash, sweet corn and okra.
• Tomato, capsicum, chilli and eggplant seedlings where local guidance supports planting and heat protection is available.
Legumes — southern semi-arid districts
• Bush beans and climbing beans while temperatures remain suitable for establishment.
Herbs — protected positions
• Basil.
In the hottest central desert gardens, concentrate on caring for established crops. Don't treat this southern planting list as a recommendation to sow through extreme heat. Follow a local calendar, and postpone new planting when seedlings cannot establish safely.
Starting plants: a ventilated, shaded outdoor nursery is more useful than a hot enclosed propagator. Prepare shade, wind protection and dependable irrigation before committing to seedlings.
Savannah
Here, Savannah means the seasonally dry tropical north and inland northern grasslands. The build-up can bring fierce heat before dependable rain arrives.
Leafy greens
• Ceylon spinach and amaranth greens.
Roots
• Sweet potato, planted as slips.
Fruiting crops
• Okra.
• Eggplant and chilli seedlings in freely draining, reliably watered beds.
Legumes
• Snake beans.
Herbs
• Basil and lemongrass.
Water availability should decide how much you plant. Early storms don't necessarily mark the start of regular rain, so keep irrigation available during establishment. Use raised or mounded beds where intense downpours cause ponding.
Start in a sheltered nursery: basil and heat-loving leafy greens can be raised away from heavy rain. Direct-sow snake beans once the soil is warm and evenly moist, and install a strong trellis before their vines take off.
Subtropical
Think Brisbane and similar warm, humid districts. Make room for vegetables that can keep growing as summer weather arrives.
Leafy greens
• Ceylon spinach, amaranth greens and heat-tolerant lettuce with afternoon shade.
Roots and alliums
• Sweet potato slips and spring onions.
Fruiting crops
• Eggplant, chilli, capsicum, cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin, squash, sweet corn, okra and watermelon.
Legumes
• Snake beans; bush and climbing beans in milder districts before sustained heat.
Herbs
• Basil, chives, mint and lemongrass.
Space plants for their mature size so air can move between them. Small repeat sowings of cucumber or zucchini are easier to manage than a crowded bed that becomes difficult to inspect after rain.
Start in punnets: heat-tolerant lettuce and basil benefit from protection while small. Put punnets somewhere bright and airy with shelter from afternoon sun and heavy storms, rather than indoors in low light.
Tropical
Think Darwin, Cairns and the humid tropical lowlands. As the wet season approaches, the most useful planting list becomes shorter and more focused.
Leafy greens
• Ceylon spinach, kangkong and amaranth greens.
Roots
• Sweet potato slips.
Fruiting crops
• Okra.
Legumes
• Snake beans.
Herbs
• Basil and lemongrass.
Good drainage matters as much as warmth. Choose a raised growing area where water can escape, and leave room to reach the plants after rain. The cooler dry season offers a more forgiving window for many familiar temperate vegetables.
Starting plants: use a bright, well-ventilated nursery protected from downpours. Avoid enclosed humid propagation spaces. Keep new plantings manageable so you can check them after storms.
Grow a patch that suits you
Choose a handful of crops for your climate, write down what you plant and keep an eye on how they respond. A sowing date, a quick photo and a note about the weather will help you make even better choices next season.
For company along the way, Grow It Local+ offers seasonal seeds, practical workshops and Ask an Expert support. Explore Grow It Local+ and keep learning as your November patch grows.