When to Plant Zucchini in Sydney, Warm Temperate Guide
Sow August to February. Right now in September you can sow.
Also called courgette.
Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Zucchini guide is written for the Warm Temperate zone, which takes in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Zucchini (courgette) is the quintessential productive home garden vegetable. A single plant can produce more fruit than a family can eat. A warm-season C. pepo cucurbit with bush habit, making it suitable for smaller gardens. Fast-growing, prolific, and forgiving. The classic 'too much zucchini' problem is real. Plant fewer than you think you need.
Planting Calendar for Warm Temperate
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S/T/D | T | - | - | - | - | - | S | S/T | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 17.0°C (optimal range: 18–35°C) ✗ Outside optimal range
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Sydney), not a live sensor.
How to Grow Zucchini in Warm Temperate Australia
When to Plant
October to January. Start indoors September.
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Raised beds excellent.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun (minimum 6 hours daily)
- Spacing
- 90cm apart, 120cm between rows
- Watering
- Deep water 2-3 times weekly at base. Avoid wetting leaves, powdery mildew magnet. Consistent moisture during fruiting.
Companion plants: Corn, Beans, Nasturtium, Marigold, Borage
Avoid planting near: Potato, Other C. pepo varieties if seed saving
Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Zucchini
Recommended Varieties
- Black Beauty
- Blackjack
- Greyzini
- Gold Rush
- Tromboncino (climbing)
Key Challenges
- Cool springs delay planting
- Powdery mildew late season
Pro Tips
- Start indoors for earliest crop
- Very productive once established
- Succession sow for season-long supply
Harvesting Zucchini
When ready: 15-20cm long for standard varieties, 8-10cm for round types. Skin glossy and tender (can pierce with thumbnail). Firm but not hard.
How to harvest: Cut with sharp knife leaving 2-3cm stem. Pick YOUNG. Check plants DAILY in warm weather. A 15cm zucchini today is a 30cm marrow tomorrow.
Worth growing?
A 2.4 m × 1.2 m bed fits 3 plants, about $82 worth at today’s Aldi and Coles prices, checked today.
That is roughly 15 kg at $5.44 a kilo.
Draw your zucchini bed → No account needed.
Common Zucchini Pests in Warm Temperate Zones
Organic prevention: Crop rotation. Protect young plants.
Where to next
Supermarket Price
Current average retail: $5.44/kg (12-month range: $3.90–$7.98)
Grow your own and save on grocery bills.
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Open the planting dashboard Join Garden BuddyCommon Questions About Zucchini
When do you plant zucchini in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Sep
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Apr, Sep to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
Does zucchini grow all year round in Sydney?
No. In the Warm Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
What else is zucchini called?
Zucchini is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it courgette. Same plant, same growing advice.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Warm Temperate zone, Sydney is its reference city.