Vegetable Planting Calendar for South Africa (Month-by-Month Guide)

Growing your own vegetables is easier when you plant at the right time of year. South Africa has different climate zones, but the general rule is simple:

🌱 Cool-season vegetables grow best autumn–winter
☀️ Warm-season vegetables thrive spring–summer

Use this handy month-by-month calendar to plan your garden and enjoy fresh harvests year-round. For seeds mentioned below, explore our full range of
Vegetable Seeds.

Month-by-Month Vegetable Planting

🌧 January (mid-summer)

Great for quick crops and continuous harvests.

• Lettuce (heat-tolerant varieties)
• Beans
• Spinach / Swiss chard
• Sweetcorn
• Cucumbers & marrows

👉 Browse our
Vegetable Seeds here.

🌤 February

Start planning cool-season veggies, especially in the Western Cape.

• Beetroot
• Carrots (direct-sow)
• Broccoli & cabbage (tray sow)
• Peas
• Lettuce

🍂 March

Prime month for autumn sowing.

• Onion seedlings
• Spinach
• Kale
• Turnips
• Broccoli

Tip: Keep seedlings moist and mulch to hold soil temperature steady.

❄ April

Perfect for hardy winter crops.

• Carrots
• Beetroot
• Broad beans
• Swiss chard
• Winter lettuce

🧊 May

Growth is slower, but flavour is excellent.

• Garlic (cloves)
• Turnips
• Spinach
• Broad beans

Pair your seeds with the right feeds and pest control:
Garden Care, Pest & Weed Control →

❄ Winter (June–July)

Plant sparingly in frost-heavy regions. Good options:

• Onions
• Garlic
• Spinach
• Peas (in mild zones)

🌱 August

Soil begins warming — prepare beds and start heat-lovers in trays.

• Early tomatoes (tray sow)
• Peppers & chillies (in trays)
• Cucumbers (warmer areas)
• Lettuce

🌸 September

Peak sowing time for many summer crops:

• Tomatoes
• Beans
• Cucumbers
• Pumpkins
• Sweetcorn

☀ October & November

Keep sowing for repeat harvests.

• Marrows & baby marrow
• Spinach
• Basil (great companion plant)

🌞 December

Focus on watering & harvesting. Continue small sowings of:

• Lettuce
• Beans
• Spinach

Quick Success Tips for Veggie Seeds

• Sow fine seeds shallowly and keep seedbeds evenly moist.
• Water deeply, less often, to encourage deep roots.
• Feed lightly once seedlings are established.
• Rotate crops yearly to avoid soil fatigue and pest build-up.
• Mulch to reduce weeds and evaporation.

Ready to plant? Explore our full range of
Vegetable Seeds online here →