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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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October 2026 Farmers Almanac
Planting, moon and climate guide for the Cold Highland zone
Climate Overview
| Zone | Max | Min | Rainfall | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Highland | 21°C avg | 6°C avg | 52mm avg | Warming, but late frosts remain a real risk all month. |
Astronomical Events
Moon Phases
Sunrise / Sunset
DST begins Oct 4 – clocks go FORWARD one hour. Days continue lengthening toward summer:
| City | 1st | 15th | Last | Daylight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra (AEDT) | 5:40am – 6:06pm (12h 25m) | 6:21am – 7:17pm (12h 56m) | 6:02am – 7:32pm (13h 30m) | +65 min |
*Oct 31 times in AEDT (daylight saving). Melbourne’s apparent gain includes clock adjustment.
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.
- Amaranth (seed tray)
- Angelica (seed tray)
- Artichokes (transplant)
- Asparagus Pea (seed tray)
- Basil (seed tray)
- Beetroot (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Borage (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Cabbage (seed tray, transplant)
- Cape Gooseberry (seed tray)
- Capsicum (seed tray)
- Carrot (sow direct)
- Celeriac (seed tray)
- Chilli peppers (seed tray)
- Chives (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Coriander (sow direct, transplant)
- Cucumber (seed tray)
- Dill (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Eggplant (seed tray)
- Endive (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Fennel (seed tray)
- French tarragon (cuttings or divisions)
- Kale (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Kohlrabi (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Leeks (seed tray, transplant)
- Lemon (grafted tree, potted)
- Lemon Balm (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Lettuce (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Mandarin (grafted tree, potted)
- Mint (cuttings or divisions)
- Mizuna (sow direct, transplant)
- Mustard greens (sow direct, transplant)
- NZ Spinach (seed tray)
- Orange (grafted tree, potted)
- Oregano (seed tray, transplant)
- Pak Choy (sow direct, transplant)
- Parsley (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Parsnip (sow direct)
- Peas (sow direct)
- Potato (seed potatoes)
- Pumpkin (seed tray)
- Radish (sow direct)
- Rocket (sow direct)
- Rockmelon (seed tray)
- Rosemary (cuttings or potted plants)
- Sage (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Salsify (sow direct)
- Savory – summer savory (seed tray)
- Savory – winter savory (seed tray, transplant)
- Silverbeet (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Spinach (sow direct, transplant)
- Spring Onion (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Squash (seed tray)
- Sunflower (seed tray)
- Sweet Corn (seed tray)
- Sweet Marjoram (seed tray)
- Thyme (sow direct, seed tray, transplant)
- Tomatillo (seed tray)
- Tomato (seed tray)
- Turnip (sow direct)
- Watermelon (seed tray)
- Winter squash (seed tray)
- Zucchini (seed tray)
- Angelica
- Asparagus
- Beetroot
- Broad Beans
- Chives
- Collards
- Coriander
- Dill
- Endive
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lemon
- Lemon Balm
- Lettuce
- Mint
- Mizuna
- Mustard greens
- Oregano
- Pak Choy
- Parsley
- Peas
- Radish
- Rhubarb
- Rocket
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Silverbeet
- Snow Peas
- Spinach
- Spring Onion
- Thyme
- Turnip
Moon Planting Calendar
| Phase | Dates | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Waning (Full to Last Quarter) | Oct 1-3 | Root vegetables, garlic, onions, bulbs. Pruning. |
| Waning (Last Quarter to New) | Oct 3-11 | Soil preparation, composting, pest control. Rest period. |
| Waxing (New to First Quarter) | Oct 11-19 | Leafy greens and herbs. Sow above-ground crops that fruit outside the plant. |
| Waxing (First Quarter to Full) | Oct 19-26 | Fruiting crops – tomatoes, beans, cucurbits. Strongest above-ground planting energy. |
| Waning (Full to Last Quarter) | Oct 26-31 | Root vegetables, garlic, onions, bulbs. Pruning. |
Livestock Guide
Birth season is winding down. Weaner management is the job now and heat awareness starts for every mob.
Cattle
- Late calving
- Marking and tagging
- Pasture at peak
- Weaner preparation
Sheep & Goats
- Marking, mulesing if practiced
- Weaner education
- Fly awareness (blowfly season)
- Summer preparation
Poultry
- Production at peak
- Heat preparation beginning
- Shade provision
- Reduce flock if overcrowded
Bees
- Spring honey harvest possible
- Continue swarm management
- Queen productivity check
- Prepare for summer
Self-Sufficiency Focus
Fire Season Preparation
If you’re in a fire-prone area, now is the time to prepare. Clear gutters, rake up leaf litter, trim trees away from buildings, check your bushfire plan. Don’t wait until the first total fire ban day to think about this.
Key Takeaways
- Daylight saving: October 4 – clocks forward, longer evenings
- Fire preparation: Clear gutters, reduce fuel loads
- Orionids: Meteor shower peaks October 21
- Heat approaching: Finish planting before it gets too hot