Spring Planting Guide

A Seasonal Guide for New Zealand Gardeners

Spring in New Zealand is a time of fresh growth, longer days, and exciting opportunities for gardeners. As the chill of winter fades and soil temperatures begin to rise, it’s the perfect time to sow the seeds of a productive season ahead. Whether you’re planting outdoors or taking advantage of your Eden Greenhouse, there’s a wide range of vegetables, herbs, and flowers ready to thrive.

This spring planting guide is tailored for New Zealand’s diverse climate zones, from the cooler South Island to the subtropical north.

Getting Ready: Spring Garden Tasks

Before you start planting, prepare your garden beds or greenhouse space:

• Clear winter debris and weeds.
• Add compost or aged manure to enrich soil.
• Check frost dates for your area (typically late September to early November) using NIWA’s climate data.
• Warm up your soil using black mulch or cloches, especially in cooler regions.

What to Plant Outdoors in Spring (by Region)

North Island – Warmer Regions (Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Northland)

These areas are already warming up by early to mid-spring:

Vegetables:

• Tomatoes (mid to late September onward)
• Courgettes
• Cucumbers
• Sweetcorn
• Beans (climbing and dwarf)
• Potatoes
• Pumpkins and squash
• Kumara (late spring)

Herbs:

• Basil (once nights stay above 10°C)
• Coriander
• Mint, oregano, thyme, and parsley

Tip: Stagger your corn and bean plantings every two weeks for a continuous harvest into summer.

Cooler North Island & Lower South Island (Wellington, Wairarapa, Nelson, Christchurch)

Frosts can still occur into October, so delay warm-season planting or start seedlings indoors.

Vegetables:

• Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower
• Beetroot
• Silverbeet
• Carrots and parsnips
• Leeks
• Lettuce and mesclun
• Spring onions

Warm-season crops (from late October):

• Tomatoes
• Chillies
• Eggplant
• Courgette (protected areas or after risk of frost)

Herbs:

• Cold-sensitive herbs (basil, lemongrass) should be started in glasshouses or indoors, then transplanted after the last frost.
• Hardy herbs like parsley, chives, thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary are frost-tolerant and can be planted in early spring.

Tip: Use frost cloth or start heat-loving plants in your Eden Greenhouses to get a head start on the season.

Cold/Alpine Areas (Central Otago, Queenstown, inland Canterbury)

Late frosts are common until November. Focus on hardy crops and greenhouse starts.

Vegetables:

• Broad beans
• Peas
• Spinach and kale
• Onions and garlic (if not already in)
• Carrots and radish
• Cabbages and Brussels sprouts

Start indoors or in your Eden Greenhouse:

• Tomatoes
• Chillies
• Pumpkins
• Capsicum
• Courgette

Herbs:

• Thyme, mint, chives, rosemary, and sage do well outdoors.

What to Plant in Your Eden Greenhouse

Your Eden Greenhouse extends your growing season by creating a warm, protected environment, ideal for heat-loving and delicate crops.

Perfect for Spring Glasshouse Growing across Aotearoa:

• Tomatoes
• Capsicum and chillies
• Cucumbers
• Melons (rockmelon, watermelon in pots)
• Basil, lemongrass, coriander
• Early courgette and squash

Tip: Use grow bags or large containers with well-drained, fertile soil. Monitor for pests like whitefly and aphids, and use sticky traps or neem spray as needed.

Companion Planting & Organic Pest Control

Attract beneficial insects and deter pests with companion planting:

Vegetable	Companion Plants	Avoid Planting With
Tomatoes	Basil, marigold, chives	Potatoes
Beans	Corn, cucumbers	Onions
Lettuce	Chives, mint	Parsley

Natural Pest Tips:

• Use netting or insect mesh to prevent cabbage butterflies.
• Try companion flowers like nasturtiums (aphid trap crop) and calendula (pollinator-friendly).
• Spray organic neem oil or garlic-chilli spray to manage whitefly and aphids.

Flowers to Plant in Spring

Add beauty and biodiversity to your garden with spring-flowering plants:

• Calendula – edible, and great for deterring pests
• Marigolds – help repel nematodes
• Sweet peas – fragrant and beneficial for pollinators
• Lavender – loved by bees and helps deter moths

Fertilising & Watering Tips

• Feed leafy crops with high-nitrogen fertilisers (e.g., fish emulsion, seaweed tonic).
• Fruiting crops (tomatoes, capsicum) need balanced NPK and additional potassium.
• Water deeply and less frequently to promote strong root systems.
• Mulch with straw or bark chips to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Resources & Further Reading

For regional planting calendars and advice, visit:

• Tui Garden Planting Calendar
• Kings Seeds NZ
• Yates Gardening NZ
• Garden Grow NZ

Final Word

Spring is your garden’s grand opening, a fresh chapter that sets the tone for the entire growing year. Whether you’re nurturing seedlings inside your Eden Greenhouse or sowing directly into open beds, planting in spring gives you a head start on flavour, nutrition, and self-sufficiency.

Happy planting from the Eden Greenhouses team 🌿