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 Tropical zone
Climate Overview
| Zone | Max | Min | Rainfall | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical | 31-33°C | 22-24°C | 170-230mm | Build-up ending. Dry season approaches. Still humid. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns (AEST) | 6:22am – 6:18pm (11h 55m) | 6:25am – 6:08pm (11h 43m) | 6:28am – 5:59pm (11h 30m) | -25 min |
*Apr 30 times in AEST after DST ends. Apparent change includes clock adjustment – actual daylight loss ~17 min less.
Planting Guide
Tropical 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 (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Artichokes (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Asparagus Pea (sow direct)
- Banana (transplant)
- Basil (seed tray, transplant)
- Beans – climbing (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Beans – dwarf (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Beetroot (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Blueberry (transplant)
- Broccoli (seed tray)
- Cabbage (seed tray)
- Cape Gooseberry (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Capsicum (seed tray)
- Carrot (sow direct)
- Celeriac (seed tray)
- Chilli peppers (seed tray)
- Chinese cabbage (seed tray)
- Chives (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Collards (sow direct, seed tray)
- Coriander (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Cucumber (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Daikon (sow direct)
- Eggplant (sow direct, seed tray)
- Endive (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Fennel (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Fig (transplant)
- French tarragon (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Garlic (sow direct)
- Ginger (sow direct)
- Grapefruit (transplant)
- Kale (seed tray)
- Kohlrabi (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Leeks (sow direct, seed tray)
- Lemon (transplant)
- Lemongrass (transplant)
- Lettuce (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Lime (transplant)
- Luffa (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Mandarin (transplant)
- Mint (seed tray)
- Mizuna (seed tray)
- Mulberry (transplant)
- Mustard greens (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- NZ Spinach (seed tray)
- Okra (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Onion (seed tray)
- Orange (transplant)
- Oregano (seed tray)
- Pak Choy (seed tray)
- Papaya (transplant)
- Parsley (sow direct, seed tray)
- Passionfruit (transplant)
- Peas (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Pineapple (transplant)
- Potato (sow direct)
- Pumpkin (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Radish (sow direct)
- Rockmelon (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Rutabaga (sow direct, transplant)
- Sage (seed tray)
- Salsify (sow direct)
- Silverbeet (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Spring Onion (seed tray)
- Squash (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Strawberries (seed tray)
- Sunflower (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Sweet Corn (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Sweet Marjoram (seed tray)
- Sweet Potato (sow direct)
- Tomatillo (sow direct, seed tray)
- Turnip (sow direct)
- Watermelon (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Yacon (sow direct)
- Zucchini (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Banana
- Basil
- Beetroot
- Blueberry
- Ginger
- Grapefruit
- Lemon
- Lemongrass
- Lime
- Mandarin
- Mulberry
- Mustard greens
- Orange
- Papaya
- Passionfruit
- Peanut
- Persimmon
- Pineapple
- Pomegranate
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Yam/Oca
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