Sow a short row first
Radish and spring onion are manageable first sowings. Repeat small batches so the harvest does not arrive all at once.
Sydney, NSW
What to plant in Sydney in September.
Sydney has broadly warm temperate conditions: coastal warmth, mild winters and variable rainfall. These suggestions are a practical starting point for the month.
Check my exact postcode →127broad choices
Warm temperateclimate
Septemberplanting month
Local garden notes
A practical starting point for Sydney
Spring opens up both food and flower beds in Sydney. Start with a few quick crops rather than sowing every packet at once, and leave space for summer plants to spread.
Plan the summer bed
Tomato, cucumber and zucchini will need sun, room and reliable watering as weather warms. Check the seed packet for the exact variety.
Add habitat with colour
A native shrub or a spring-flowering annual can bring pollinators close to the food bed. Choose a plant suited to your available light and space.
Local reference: Botanic Gardens of Sydney: spring gardening tips ↗. Patch’s suggestions are general; check your own forecast and the exact variety.
Your starting list
Planting ideas for September
Grow to Eat
CarrotSow direct • Full sun • 10–16 weeksSpinachSow direct • Part sun • 6–8 weeksTomatoStart in trays • Full sun • 12–16 weeksLettuceSow or transplant • Part sun • 6–10 weeksBeetrootSow direct • Full sun • 8–12 weeksRadishSow direct • Full sun • 4–7 weeksSilverbeetSow or transplant • Full sun • 8–12 weeksCorianderSow direct • Part sun • 6–8 weeksSpring onionSow direct • Full sun • 8–12 weeksKaleSow or transplant • Full sun • 8–12 weeksBeansSow direct • Full sun • 8–12 weeksBasilStart in trays • Full sun • 6–10 weeksCucumberSow direct • Full sun • 8–12 weeksCapsicumStart in trays • Full sun • 14–20 weeksPumpkinSow direct • Full sun • 16–22 weeksZucchiniSow direct • Full sun • 8–12 weeksPotatoPlant seed potatoes • Full sun • 14–20 weeksEggplantStart in trays • Full sun • 16–22 weeksChilliStart in trays • Full sun • 14–20 weeksSweet cornSow direct in blocks • Full sun • 12–16 weeksCabbageStart in trays • Full sun • 12–20 weeksBok choySow or transplant • Part sun • 6–9 weeksLeekStart in trays • Full sun • 20–30 weeksParsleySow or transplant • Part sun • 10–14 weeksDillSow direct • Full sun • 8–12 weeksTurnipSow direct • Full sun • 7–11 weeksSweet potatoPlant slips • Full sun • 18–24 weeksWatermelonSow direct • Full sun • 14–20 weeksCeleryStart in trays • Part sun • 16–22 weeksRosemaryPlant seedlings • Full sun • Light harvest in 8–12 weeksThymePlant seedlings • Full sun • Light harvest in 8–12 weeksOreganoPlant seedlings • Full sun • Light harvest in 8–12 weeksMintPlant in a container • Part sun • Light harvest in 6–8 weeksStrawberryPlant runners • Full sun • Fruit in 12–20 weeksBlueberryPlant a young shrub • Part sun • Fruit in 1–2 yearsLemonPlant a grafted tree • Full sun • Fruit in 2–3 yearsOrangePlant a grafted tree • Full sun • Fruit in 2–3 yearsApplePlant a bare-root tree • Full sun • Fruit in 2–4 yearsPeachPlant a bare-root tree • Full sun • Fruit in 2–4 yearsAsparagusPlant crowns • Full sun • Light harvest after 2 yearsArtichokePlant seedlings • Full sun • Heads in 24–36 weeksRocketSow direct • Part sun • 4–7 weeksEndiveSow or transplant • Part sun • 8–12 weeksMustard greensSow direct • Full or part sun • 6–10 weeksMizunaSow direct • Part sun • 5–8 weeksTatsoiSow direct • Part sun • 6–9 weeksKohlrabiSow or transplant • Full sun • 8–12 weeksBrussels sproutsStart in trays • Full sun • 20–30 weeksFennelSow direct • Full sun • 12–16 weeksOkraSow direct • Full sun • 10–14 weeksChokoPlant a vine • Full sun • Fruit in 16–24 weeksRhubarbPlant crowns • Full or part sun • Light harvest after one yearGingerPlant rhizomes • Part sun • 32–40 weeksTurmericPlant rhizomes • Part sun • 32–40 weeksLemongrassPlant divisions • Full sun • Light harvest in 12–16 weeksChivesPlant divisions • Full or part sun • Light harvest in 8–12 weeksSagePlant seedlings • Full sun • Light harvest in 10–14 weeksTarragonPlant divisions • Full sun • Light harvest in 10–14 weeksPassionfruitPlant a vine • Full sun • Fruit in 12–24 monthsGrapevinePlant a vine • Full sun • Fruit in 2–3 yearsFigPlant a grafted tree • Full sun • Fruit in 1–2 yearsPearPlant a bare-root tree • Full sun • Fruit in 2–4 yearsPlumPlant a bare-root tree • Full sun • Fruit in 2–4 yearsCherryPlant a bare-root tree • Full sun • Fruit in 2–4 yearsApricotPlant a bare-root tree • Full sun • Fruit in 2–4 yearsRaspberryPlant runners • Full or part sun • Fruit in 1–2 seasonsBlackberryPlant runners • Full sun • Fruit in 1–2 seasonsGooseberryPlant a young shrub • Full or part sun • Fruit in 1–2 yearsPomegranatePlant a grafted tree • Full sun • Fruit in 2–3 yearsOlivePlant a grafted tree • Full sun • Fruit in 3–5 yearsMacadamiaPlant a grafted tree • Full sun • Nuts in 4–6 yearsAlmondPlant a bare-root tree • Full sun • Nuts in 3–5 years
Grow for Beauty
SunflowerSow direct • Full sun • Flowers in 10–14 weeksMarigoldSow or transplant • Full sun • Flowers in 8–12 weeksZinniaSow direct • Full sun • Flowers in 8–12 weeksCosmosSow direct • Full sun • Flowers in 8–12 weeksPetuniaPlant seedlings • Full sun • Flowers in 8–10 weeksNasturtiumSow direct • Full or part sun • Flowers in 8–12 weeksSweet peaSow direct • Full sun • Flowers in 12–16 weeksPansyPlant seedlings • Part sun • Flowers in 6–10 weeksCalendulaSow direct • Full sun • Flowers in 8–12 weeksAlyssumSow or transplant • Full or part sun • Flowers in 6–10 weeksSnapdragonPlant seedlings • Full sun • Flowers in 10–14 weeksStockPlant seedlings • Full sun • Flowers in 10–14 weeksViolaPlant seedlings • Part sun • Flowers in 6–10 weeksDahliaPlant tubers • Full sun • Flowers in summer–autumnGladiolusPlant corms • Full sun • Flowers in 12–16 weeksLavenderPlant seedlings • Full sun • Establishes in 1–2 seasonsKangaroo pawPlant tubestock • Full sun • Establishes in 1–2 seasonsPaper daisySow or plant seedlings • Full sun • Flowers in 10–16 weeksGrevilleaPlant tubestock • Full or part sun • Establishes in 1–2 yearsBanksiaPlant tubestock • Full sun • Establishes in 1–2 yearsBottlebrushPlant tubestock • Full sun • Establishes in 1–2 yearsWattlePlant tubestock • Full sun • Establishes in 1–2 yearsNative violetPlant groundcover • Part shade • Spreads within one seasonLilly pillyPlant tubestock • Full or part sun • Establishes in 1–2 yearsRosePlant a bare-root tree • Full sun • Flowers in the first seasonHydrangeaPlant a young shrub • Part sun • Flowers in 1–2 seasonsCamelliaPlant a young shrub • Part sun • Establishes in 1–2 yearsGardeniaPlant a young shrub • Part sun • Flowers in 1–2 seasonsGeraniumPlant cuttings • Full or part sun • Flowers in 10–16 weeksSalviaPlant seedlings • Full sun • Flowers in 10–14 weeksFoxgloveSow or transplant • Part sun • Flowers in the next cool seasonDelphiniumPlant seedlings • Full sun • Flowers in spring–summerCornflowerSow direct • Full sun • Flowers in 10–14 weeksPoppySow direct • Full sun • Flowers in 12–16 weeksPeonyPlant a bare-root tree • Full sun • Flowers after 1–2 seasonsChrysanthemumPlant cuttings • Full sun • Flowers in autumnAsterPlant seedlings • Full sun • Flowers in late summer–autumnConeflowerPlant seedlings • Full sun • Flowers in summerGauraPlant seedlings • Full sun • Flowers through warm monthsVerbenaPlant seedlings • Full sun • Flowers in 8–12 weeksLobeliaPlant seedlings • Part sun • Flowers in 8–12 weeksBegoniaPlant tubers • Part shade • Flowers in 10–14 weeksImpatiensPlant seedlings • Part shade • Flowers in 8–12 weeksFuchsiaPlant a young shrub • Part shade • Flowers in 1–2 seasonsJasminePlant a vine • Full or part sun • Flowers in 1–2 seasonsBougainvilleaPlant a vine • Full sun • Flowers in 1–2 seasonsHibiscusPlant a young shrub • Full sun • Flowers in 1–2 seasonsMagnoliaPlant a young shrub • Full or part sun • Establishes in 1–2 yearsAzaleaPlant a young shrub • Part shade • Flowers in 1–2 seasonsRhododendronPlant a young shrub • Part shade • Flowers in 1–2 seasonsAgapanthusPlant divisions • Full sun • Flowers in 1–2 seasonsBird of paradisePlant divisions • Full or part sun • Flowers after 1–2 yearsColeusPlant seedlings • Part shade • Colour within 6–10 weeksLomandraPlant tubestock • Full or part sun • Establishes within one seasonCorreaPlant tubestock • Full or part sun • Establishes in 1–2 seasons
Before you plant
A quick September garden check
- Check the forecast.Delay tender planting during frost, heatwaves, waterlogged weather or damaging wind.
- Prepare the soil.Remove weeds, check drainage and add mature compost where the plant benefits from it.
- Read the label.Exact varieties can need different depth, spacing, pollination or pruning.
- Water the root zone.Water new plants thoroughly and keep moisture consistent while roots establish.