Climate Zones for Australian Gardeners

Knowing your climate zone will help you decide the best time to sow the vegetables, herbs and flowers you want to grow, and which varieties should perform well in your garden. Growing plants that are suited to your climate zone will usually give you the best results in your garden.

How to Use Climate Zones

First, find your climate zone using the map or descriptions below. Next, refer to our sowing chart, which provides approximate sowing times for our most popular seeds for each climate zone.

While knowing your climate zone is helpful when planning your garden, there are many other factors that may affect how your plants grow, including unseasonal weather conditions, the specific microclimate of your garden and how you care for your plants. You know your garden better than us, so if a different climate zone seems to ‘fit’ your garden better, go ahead and use it as a guide.

Our climate zones cover huge areas of Australia, so we recommend gardeners also consider their local conditions when planning what and when to plant. For example, gardeners in alpine areas have shorter growing seasons than gardeners in cool coastal areas, even though both alpine and coastal areas are included in our ‘Cool Temperate’ climate zone. We recommend gardeners in cool regions look at the ‘days to maturity’ information provided for each variety and choose those that will mature in a short (6-12 week) growing season.

climate map

Tropical

Includes: Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Exmouth
High humidity summers with most rainfall in summer and dry, warm winters. Includes northern Australia from Exmouth (WA) across to south of Townsville (Qld).
Set as my climate My climate

Arid

Includes: Alice Springs, Mildura, Albury-Wodonga, Shepparton, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo
Hot dry summers, winters can be warm or cool depending on the region. Includes a large area of central Australia from the WA coast to Charleville (Qld), Tamworth (NSW) and Albury-Wodonga (NSW/Vic).
Set as my climate My climate

Subtropical

Includes: Brisbane, Bundaberg, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast
Warm humid summers with high summer rainfall and mild winters. Includes coastal Queensland and northern NSW from north of Mackay to just south of Coffs Harbour.
Set as my climate My climate

Temperate

Includes: Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, Toowoomba, Central Coast NSW, Wollongong, Bunbury
Moderate humidity and reliable rainfall, with four distinct seasons. Includes coastal areas from north of Port Macquarie to south of Woollongong in NSW, coastal SA and the southeastern coast of WA.
Set as my climate My climate

Cool Temperate

Includes: Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Launceston, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mt Gambier
Low humidity with most rainfall in winter; hot dry summers and cold winters. Some regions will experience frosts and snow. Includes coastal areas of south-eastern Australia and alpine areas of Victoria, NSW and Tasmania.
Set as my climate My climate

Climate Zones FAQ

What if I can’t find my climate zone?
If you can’t locate your zone from looking at the map or the descriptions on this page, we suggest that you think of an area that has a climate that’s similar to yours and use the zone for that area as a guide.

What if I live on the border of two zones?
If you live near the border between two zones we suggest you read the descriptions for both zones and decide which best describes the climate where you live. Depending on the microclimate in your garden, you may be able to grow a wider range of plants over a longer season than others in your zone. Lucky you!

What is a microclimate?
A microclimate is a small area where the temperature or humidity differs to the climate of the surrounding area. For example, if you live in a climate zone where frosts are common but your garden is protected by buildings or large trees, your garden may be frost-free. Similarly, if you live in a warm temperate zone but your garden is at a high altitude your microclimate may have more in common with the cool temperate zone, so use this as a guide when deciding which zone is relevant to you.

Can I grow varieties not listed for my climate zone?
While our climate zones and sowing chart will help you decide what is suitable to plant in your garden, they provide general guidance only. We recommend you start by sowing seed that’s recommended for your climate zone; once you get a few successes under your belt you can experiment with varieties in neighbouring zones and see how you go – gardening is all about experimenting after all!

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) flowers and leaves are edible, and so are the green seed pods that follow the flowers. Pickled, the pods make a great substitute for capers, which are the pickled buds of the caper bush (Capparis spinosa). Nasturtium capers have a peppery, tangy bite, keep in the fridge for up to 6 months, and go well in salads, pasta and cold dishes.

What You Will Need

Fresh green nasturtium seed pods: ~50 to 100 pods (enough to fill a small jar)
Water & Salt: For the initial 48-hour soaking brine
Apple cider vinegar: 1 cup
Honey: ¼ teaspoon
Salt: 1 big pinch
Optional aromatics/flavourings: Whole peppercorns and garlic cloves
Fine sieve or strainer
Small glass jar or container with a lid
Small saucepan
Spoon or ladle

How to Make Your 'Capers'

Harvest the Seed Pods
Select the right pods: Look for plump, fresh, green, and juicy seed pods that are still attached to the stem.
Avoid dry pods: Do not use dried brown seed pods found underneath the plant on the ground.
Gather enough: Pick between 50 and 100 pods to fill a small glass jar.
Wash & Pre-Soak (48 Hours)
Rinse: Place the seed pods in a fine sieve and wash thoroughly under cool, running water to remove any garden dirt or hidden bugs.
Soak: Transfer the clean seed pods into a small glass container. Cover them with salty water (½ tablesppon salt in 1 cup water), seal with a lid, and let them sit for 48 hours. This soaking step helps firm up the seed pods so they are ready for pickling.
Prepare the Pickling Brine
Heat the vinegar: Place a small pot on the stove over medium heat and pour in 1 cup of apple cider vinegar.
Add seasonings: As the liquid begins to heat up, add a ¼ teaspoon of honey and a big pinch of salt.
Optional seasonings: A few whole peppercorns and a couple of peeled garlic cloves.
Boil: Stir the mixture continuously until it comes to a boil and the honey and salt have completely dissolved.
Remove from heat: Take the pot off the stove.
Pickle the Seed Pods
Rinse pods again: Strain the seed pods out of the salty water and give them another thorough wash under running water.
Fill the jar: Transfer the rinsed pods into your clean glass jar.
Pour brine: Carefully pour the hot pickling brine over the seed pods, making sure they are fully submerged. Secure the lid on top.
Curing & Storage
Refrigerate: Place the jar in the refrigerator and allow the capers to pickle for 1 week before eating.
Shelf Life: Once cured, pickled nasturtium capers will keep in the fridge for up to 6 months.

How to Enjoy

Nasturtium capers offer a delightfully peppery, juicy, and spicy crunch!

Enjoy them straight out of the jar on their own.
Mix them into salads, pasta, or cold dishes.
Scatter them over freshly smashed avocado toast alongside a few edible nasturtium flowers for a stunning and tasty breakfast!

Picking nasturtium seeds