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Farmers almanac
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.
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June 2026 Farmers Almanac
Planting, moon and climate guide for the Cold Highland zone
Climate Overview
| Zone | Max | Min | Rainfall | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Highland | 13°C avg | 1°C avg | 47mm avg | Winter. Hard frosts most clear mornings. Occasional snow on the ranges. |
Astronomical Events
Moon Phases
Sunrise / Sunset
Days are near their shortest around the solstice. Here’s the change across the month:
| City | 1st | 15th | Last | Daylight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra (AEST) | 7:03am – 4:59pm (9h 56m) | 7:10am – 4:57pm (9h 47m) | 7:12am – 5:01pm (9h 48m) | -8 min |
Trend: Minimal change – we’re at the bottom. Melbourne turns the corner by month’s end.
Planting Guide
Cold Highland Zone
Planting windows from the GardenBuddy zone planting master (109 crops tracked for this zone). Harvest months are the verified zone harvest window where we have one, otherwise calculated from typical days to maturity.
- Apple (grafted tree, potted or bare-root)
- Blueberry (potted plant)
- Fig (potted or bare-root tree, or cuttings)
- Garlic (cloves)
- Horseradish (root cuttings)
- Mulberry (potted or bare-root tree, or cuttings)
- Onion (seed tray)
- Peach (grafted tree, potted or bare-root)
- Pear (grafted tree, potted or bare-root)
- Peas (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Pecan (grafted tree, potted or bare-root)
- Persimmon (grafted tree, potted or bare-root)
- Plum (grafted tree, potted or bare-root)
- Raspberry (canes or suckers)
- Spinach (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Walnut (grafted tree, potted or bare-root)
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Celeriac
- Collards
- Coriander
- Daikon
- Endive
- Horseradish
- Jerusalem Artichokes
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Leeks
- Lemon
- Lettuce
- Lime
- Mandarin
- Mizuna
- Mustard greens
- Orange
- Pak Choy
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Rocket
- Rosemary
- Rutabaga
- Salsify
- Silverbeet
- Spinach
- Spring Onion
- Thyme
- Turnip
- Yacon
- Yam/Oca
Moon Planting Calendar
| Phase | Dates | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Waning (Full to Last Quarter) | Jun 1-8 | Root vegetables, garlic, onions, bulbs. Pruning. |
| Waning (Last Quarter to New) | Jun 8-15 | Soil preparation, composting, pest control. Rest period. |
| Waxing (New to First Quarter) | Jun 15-22 | Leafy greens and herbs. Sow above-ground crops that fruit outside the plant. |
| Waxing (First Quarter to Full) | Jun 22-30 | Fruiting crops – tomatoes, beans, cucurbits. Strongest above-ground planting energy. |
Livestock Guide
Winter management is the job. Keep stock warm, dry, and well-fed. Pregnant animals need extra eyes on them.
Cattle
- Winter management
- Pregnancy testing
- Maintain condition
- Supplement as needed
Sheep & Goats
- Mid-pregnancy
- Scanning if not done
- Shelter essential
- Nutrition monitoring
Poultry
- Production at annual low
- 14+ hour lighting for production
- Keep water from freezing
- Deep litter management
Bees
- Hibernation mode
- No inspections on cold days
- Emergency feeding only
- Leave hives alone
Self-Sufficiency Focus
Energy Management
Heating costs are at their peak. Solar output is at its minimum. If you’ve got a wood heater, you’re using it daily. If you’re on solar, you’re probably buying from the grid more than you’re selling. This is when good insulation and passive solar design really pays off.
Key Takeaways
- Winter Solstice: June 21 – shortest day, major Gann cycle date
- Bare root trees: Prime planting time – get them in the ground
- Citrus abundance: Peak harvest – process the surplus
- Frost management: Regular frost in most southern zones
- Heating peak: Energy costs highest – efficiency matters
- Mediterranean rain: Tanks filling – winter is growing season there