One almanac per growing zone, published every month. Pick your zone and month below for the full picture: what to plant now, what should be coming ready to harvest, the moon planting calendar, sunrise and sunset for your zone, and the climate averages you can expect from Bureau of Meteorology records.
Past months are free for everyone, so you can read back and judge the almanac for yourself. The current month and everything ahead of it is for GardenBuddy members.
April 2026 Farmers Almanac
Planting, moon and climate guide for the Arid zone
Climate Overview
| Zone | Max | Min | Rainfall | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arid | 26-32°C | 13-18°C | 12-20mm | Cooling nicely. Cool nights, warm days. Excellent conditions. |
Astronomical Events
Moon Phases
Sunrise / Sunset
Daylight saving ends April 5 – clocks go BACK one hour. Days continue shortening toward winter:
| City | 1st | 15th | Last | Daylight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Springs (ACST) | 6:42am – 6:33pm (11h 51m) | 6:48am – 6:20pm (11h 32m) | 6:54am – 6:08pm (11h 14m) | -37 min |
*Apr 30 times in AEST after DST ends. Apparent change includes clock adjustment – actual daylight loss ~17 min less.
Planting Guide
Arid Zone
Planting windows from the GardenBuddy zone planting master (99 crops tracked for this zone). The harvest list is calculated: crops whose typical days to maturity land this month when planted inside their zone window.
- Amaranth (transplant)
- Avocado (transplant)
- Beetroot (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Blueberry (transplant)
- Broad Beans (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Broccoli (seed tray, transplant)
- Cabbage (seed tray, transplant)
- Carrot (sow direct)
- Chinese cabbage (seed tray, transplant)
- Collards (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Daikon (sow direct)
- Endive (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Garlic (sow direct)
- Jerusalem Artichokes (sow direct)
- Kale (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Kohlrabi (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Leeks (sow direct, transplant)
- Lettuce (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Mustard greens (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Onion (transplant)
- Oregano (transplant)
- Pak Choy (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Parsley (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Parsnip (sow direct)
- Peas (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Radish (sow direct)
- Rocket (sow direct)
- Rutabaga (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Silverbeet (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Snow Peas (seed tray)
- Sunflower (transplant)
- Turnip (sow direct)
- Watermelon (transplant)
- Zucchini (transplant)
- Amaranth
- Artichokes
- Asparagus Pea
- Avocado
- Basil
- Beans – climbing
- Beans – dwarf
- Beetroot
- Cabbage
- Capsicum
- Carrot
- Chinese cabbage
- Chives
- Cucumber
- Daikon
- Eggplant
- Fig
- Kohlrabi
- Lemongrass
- Lettuce
- Mustard greens
- NZ Spinach
- Oregano
- Pak Choy
- Parsley
- Pomegranate
- Pumpkin
- Radish
- Rocket
- Rockmelon
- Salsify
- Silverbeet
- Squash
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Tomato
- Turnip
- Watermelon
- Yacon
- Yam/Oca
- Zucchini
Moon Planting Calendar
| Phase | Dates | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Waxing (First Quarter to Full) | Apr 1-2 | Fruiting crops – tomatoes, beans, cucurbits. Strongest above-ground planting energy. |
| Waning (Full to Last Quarter) | Apr 2-10 | Root vegetables, garlic, onions, bulbs. Pruning. |
| Waning (Last Quarter to New) | Apr 10-17 | Soil preparation, composting, pest control. Rest period. |
| Waxing (New to First Quarter) | Apr 17-24 | Leafy greens and herbs. Sow above-ground crops that fruit outside the plant. |
| Waxing (First Quarter to Full) | Apr 24-30 | Fruiting crops – tomatoes, beans, cucurbits. Strongest above-ground planting energy. |
Livestock Guide
Breeding season is on. Cooler weather is putting condition back on animals and fertility is at its best.
Cattle
- Autumn joining underway
- Bull management important
- Condition improving with cooler weather
- Pasture monitoring
- Worm treatment if needed
Sheep & Goats
- Joining period
- Flush feeding continuing
- Ram/buck management
- Pregnancy may be confirmed (if AI used)
Poultry
- Peak egg production conditions
- Coop weatherproofing
- Reduce ventilation for warmth
- Stock up on winter feed
Bees
- Check winter stores
- Combine weak hives
- Reduce entrance
- Final mite treatment
Self-Sufficiency Focus
Food Preservation
Apple and pear season is at peak. If you’ve got trees or access to bulk fruit, this is the time to process them. Bottling, drying, juice, cider – whatever takes your fancy. Winter squash and pumpkins are curing nicely and will store for months.
Energy & Water
This is the cheapest energy month of the year for most. Minimal heating or cooling needed. Solar output still reasonable. If you need to do battery maintenance or system upgrades, now’s the time before winter demand kicks in.
Key Takeaways
- Daylight saving ends: April 5 – clocks go back one hour
- Bare root season: Order fruit trees NOW – good varieties sell out
- Last garlic window: If you haven’t planted yet, do it immediately
- Peak autumn planting: Nearly everything can go in
- Lyrids meteor shower: April 22 – decent viewing after midnight
- Cheapest energy month: Minimal heating/cooling – do maintenance now