🗓 Reading the timeline: Each row shows all 12 months (Jan–Dec). Colours show what to do that month. Your greenhouse/propagator lets you start frost-sensitive crops 4–6 weeks earlier than open garden timing.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sow indoors / greenhouse/propagator

Sow direct outdoors

Transplant out

Harvest window

Frost risk / protect

Rest / not recommended

🫛 Sugar Snap Pea

Enjoy Pod and All

☀️ Full Sun 🌱 Garden Bed 🪴 Large Pot OK ✅ Easy

SOW

✗

🏠SOW

SOW

🌿OUT

🍃GROW

🌿GROW

Depth: 2–3cm direct. Spacing: 5–8cm. Support: Needs trellis or sticks (grows to ~1.5m).
Peas love cool weather — perfect for Hobart! Sow in autumn (Mar–Apr) for winter/spring harvest, or start in your greenhouse/propagator in July for a spring crop. Avoid sowing in peak summer heat.

💡 greenhouse/propagator tip: Sow in July in your propagator. Peas don't like being transplanted, so use biodegradable pots or toilet roll tubes you can plant straight in the ground in Sep.

🍅 Tomato – Red Cherry

Country Value

☀️ Full Sun 🏠 greenhouse/propagator Essential 🪴 Large Pot / Grow Bag ⚠️ Moderate

✗

🏠SOW

🌿PRICK

OUT

🌱GROW

🍅HRV

Sow: July–Aug in greenhouse/propagator propagator at ~20°C. Prick out into individual pots when first true leaves appear. Harden off for 1–2 weeks before planting out in October after last frost.
Cherry tomatoes are your best bet in Hobart's short, mild summer. They ripen faster than beefsteak varieties.

💡 Hobart reality check: Hobart summers are mild. Cherry tomatoes will ripen reliably if planted in a warm, sheltered north-facing spot. Consider keeping a plant or two inside the greenhouse/propagator all season for best results. Stake or cage plants early.

🎃 Pumpkin – Butternut

Quick Maturing, High Yielding

☀️ Full Sun 🌱 Large Garden Bed 🏠 Start in greenhouse/propagator ⚠️ Needs Space

✗

🏠SOW

OUT

🌿GROW

🎃HRV

Sow: Aug–Sep in greenhouse/propagator, 2 seeds per large pot, 2cm deep. Thin to 1 plant. Transplant out in October when soil is warm.
Space: Vines can spread 2–3m. Give them room or train over a fence. Butternut is a great choice for Hobart — it matures in 90–100 days which fits within your frost-free window.

💡 Pumpkins need warm soil — don't rush them out. Mulch heavily once planted to retain warmth. Harvest when skin is hard and stem dry, around Feb–Mar.

🥬 Cabbage – Golden Acre

Compact, Early Maturing and Sweet

☀️ Full Sun 🌤 Part Shade OK 🌱 Garden Bed ✅ Easy in Hobart

HRV

SOW

✗

🏠SOW

OUT

🥬GROW

HRV

Sow: Start in greenhouse/propagator Jul–Aug, or direct sow Mar–Apr for autumn crop. Transplant out 5–6 weeks after germination. Spacing: 45cm between plants.
Cabbages are frost-hardy once established — a Hobart favourite. Golden Acre is a compact variety, ideal for smaller beds.

💡 Watch for cabbage white butterfly caterpillars (Nov–Feb). Use fine mesh netting over plants as a barrier. Net early — by the time you see damage it's too late!

🌽 Sweet Corn – Kelvedon Glory F1

Golden Cobs with Traditional Flavour

☀️ Full Sun – Essential 🌱 Garden Bed Only 🏠 Start in greenhouse/propagator ⚠️ Moderate

✗

🏠SOW

OUT

🌿GROW

🌽HRV

Important: Plant in a block (at least 4×4) not a single row — corn is wind pollinated. Spacing: 30–35cm each way. Start in greenhouse/propagator Sep in individual pots (corn hates root disturbance).
Hobart's summer is borderline for corn — it needs warmth. Choose the sunniest, most sheltered spot. Kelvedon is an early variety which helps.

💡 Start in toilet rolls in Sep so roots stay intact at transplanting. Harvest when silks are brown and dry — press a kernel: if milky juice spurts out, it's ready!

🥦 Broccoli – Green Sprouting

Country Value

☀️ Full Sun 🌤 Part Shade Tolerant 🌱 Garden Bed ✅ Excellent for Hobart

HRV

SOW

✗

🏠SOW

OUT

🥦GROW

HRV

Sow: Start in greenhouse/propagator Jul–Aug, transplant out 5–6 weeks later. Or direct sow Mar–Apr for winter/spring crop. Spacing: 40–50cm.
Broccoli thrives in Hobart — the cool temps produce sweeter, denser heads. Frost-hardy once established. Sprouting varieties give multiple harvests over weeks.

💡 Don't let the head flower — harvest while tight and green. After the main head, side shoots will keep producing for weeks. Same caterpillar pest as cabbage — use netting.

🤍 Cauliflower – Quickheart

Mr. Fothergill's

☀️ Full Sun 🌱 Garden Bed 🏠 Start in greenhouse/propagator ⚠️ Moderate — needs consistency

HRV

✗

SOW

✗

🏠SOW

OUT

🌿GROW

GROW

HRV

Spacing: 50–60cm (they need room). Key tip: Tie outer leaves over the developing curd to keep it white and prevent yellowing from sun exposure.
Cauliflower is pickier than broccoli — it dislikes temperature fluctuations. Consistent moisture and steady growth are key. Hobart suits it well but give it the warmest bed you have.

💡 Once the curd starts forming, fold a leaf over it and pin with a toothpick. Check every few days — heads mature fast once they start.

🥕 Carrot – Every Season

Country Value

☀️ Full Sun 🌤 Part Shade Tolerant 🌱 Deep Bed or Raised Bed ✅ Easy

HRV

SOW

✗

SOW

🥕GROW

HRV

Must sow direct — carrots hate transplanting. Depth: 5mm. Mix seed with fine sand for even sowing. Thin to 5–7cm when 3cm tall.
Soil prep is critical: Dig deep, remove ALL stones. Rocky/clumped soil = forked, stumpy carrots. "Every Season" means multiple sowings across the year.

💡 Cover freshly sown bed with hessian or damp newspaper until germination (keeps moisture in — carrots are slow to germinate, 14–21 days). Remove as soon as sprouts appear.

⬜ Parsnip – Hollow Crown

Compact, Adaptable and Excellent Flavour

☀️ Full Sun 🌱 Deep Garden Bed ✅ Easy — Very Frost Hardy

HRV

SOW

✗

SOW

🌿GROW

GROW

Use fresh seed each season — parsnip seed loses viability quickly. Germination: Very slow, 21–28 days. Don't give up! Frost: Frost actually sweetens parsnips — leave in ground after frost hits.
Always direct sow. Thin to 15cm spacing. Same deep, stone-free soil as carrots. Fantastic for Hobart winters.

💡 Sow radish seed in the same row as a "marker crop" — fast-germinating radishes mark the row while you wait for slow parsnip seedlings to appear. Harvest radishes before parsnips need the space.

🥗 Lettuce – Green Mignonette

Garden Favourite, Full of Flavour

🌤 Part Shade Preferred in Summer 🪴 Pot / Window Box / Bed ✅ Easiest Veg to Grow

HRV

SOW

✗

🏠SOW

OUT

🥗GROW

HRV

Sow small amounts every 3 weeks for continuous harvest (succession sowing). Surface sow — needs light to germinate. Spacing: 25cm or grow as cut-and-come-again at 10cm.
Mignonette is a compact butterhead type. Bolt-resistant in cool climates like Hobart. Great in pots on a patio.

💡 Harvest by cutting outer leaves, not the whole plant. It'll keep producing for weeks. Water in the morning — wet leaves overnight encourages slugs and rot.

🫐 Beetroot – Perfect 3

Country Value

☀️ Full Sun 🌤 Part Shade OK 🪴 Deep Pot OK 🌱 Garden Bed ✅ Easy

HRV

SOW

✗

SOW

🌿GROW

HRV

Note: Each "seed" is actually a cluster of 2–3 seeds — soak overnight to aid germination, then thin to best seedling. Spacing: 10cm. Harvest when golf-ball to tennis-ball size.
Frost-tolerant once established. Don't let them get too big — they go woody. Young beet leaves are also edible as a salad green!

💡 Sow a new row every 4 weeks for continuous harvest. Succession sowing is the beetroot secret. Don't forget to eat the tops — they're delicious sautéed like silverbeet.

Your flower selection is a lovely mix: some will attract pollinators to help your veggies, some are for beauty, and a few will self-seed and come back year after year. All are suited to Hobart with the right timing.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sow indoors / greenhouse/propagator

Sow direct outdoors

Transplant out

In Flower / Peak season

Rest / not recommended

🌸 Verbena – Dwarf Compact Mixed

Fragrant and Vibrant Groundcover

☀️ Full Sun 🪴 Excellent in Pots & Hanging Baskets 🌱 Flower Bed / Edging ⚠️ Slow from seed

🌸FLOW

✗

🏠SOW

OUT

HARDEN

🌸FLOW

Sow: Jul–Aug in greenhouse/propagator, 12 weeks before last frost. Needs light to germinate — surface sow, press gently, don't cover. Germination slow (21–30 days) and sometimes erratic.
Trailing and spreading habit — stunning cascading from hanging baskets. Fragrant and a magnet for butterflies. Deadhead regularly to keep flowering.

💡 Verbena can be tricky from seed. Chill seeds in the fridge for 7 days before sowing to improve germination (cold stratification). Keep propagator at 18–20°C.

💜 Catmint (Nepeta)

One of the Best for Bees

☀️ Full Sun 🌤 Part Shade Tolerant 🌱 Garden Bed / Border 🪴 Large Pot OK ✅ Easy — Perennial

💜FLOW

✗

🏠SOW

OUT

💜FLOW

Perennial — comes back each year! Sow in greenhouse/propagator Jul–Aug or direct sow in spring. Extremely hardy once established, drought-tolerant, and frost-resistant.
After first flowering flush, cut back by half ("Chelsea chop") for a second flush. Bees absolutely love it. Plant near your veggie patch to boost pollination.

💡 Once established, catmint is virtually maintenance-free. Plant it as a border around your veggie beds. Cats may roll in it — plant in a spot they won't flatten your seedlings! 🐱

🦋 Bee & Butterfly Mix

Attractive Mix of Over 20 Varieties

☀️ Full Sun 🌱 Garden Bed / Meadow Area ✅ Scatter & Go — Easy

🦋FLOW

✗

SOW

🌿ESTAB

🦋FLOW

Sow direct Sep–Oct into prepared, weed-free soil. Mix seed with sand to sow thinly. Lightly rake in — don't bury deep. Keep moist until established.
Ideal for a dedicated patch near veggie beds. Many varieties in this mix will self-seed and return next year. Flowering time 8–14 weeks from sowing.

💡 Clear weeds thoroughly before sowing — mixed seed is hard to weed once growing. Consider a dedicated 1–2m² spot for this. It'll reward you (and your tomatoes!) with a constant stream of pollinators.

🌼 Californian Poppy – Single Mixed

Fast Flowering, Colourful and Hardy

☀️ Full Sun 🌱 Garden Bed — Self-Seeds Freely ✅ Very Easy — Direct Sow

🌼FLOW

SOW

✗

SOW

🌼FLOW

Direct sow only — hates transplanting. Scatter seed thinly on surface, lightly rake in. Thrives in poor, dry soil — too much fertiliser = leaves, no flowers.
Self-seeds prolifically — once established, you'll have them forever. Flowers in 8 weeks. Close at night and on cloudy days (perfectly normal). Frost-resistant seedlings.

💡 Sow in Sep for Nov flowering. The more you ignore it, the better it does. Dead soil, no watering once established, full sun — it's the perfect plant for a low-maintenance sunny patch.

🌺 Aquilegia – Mckana Giant Mixed

Cottage Garden Favourite

🌤 Part Shade Preferred 🌑 Shade Tolerant 🌱 Garden Bed / Under Trees 🪴 Large Pot OK ✅ Easy — Perennial

✗

SOW

✗

🏠SOW

OUT

ESTAB

dormant

Note: Aquilegia usually flowers in its second spring/early summer — it establishes in year 1, blooms beautifully in year 2 onwards. Well worth the wait!
Cold stratification helps germination — sow in greenhouse/propagator, then place seed trays outside for 2 weeks before bringing back in to germinate. Part-shade makes it ideal for tricky spots under trees or on south-facing edges. Self-seeds freely. Perennial.

💡 Best sown in autumn (Mar–Apr) outdoors as it needs a natural cold period over winter to flower well. Don't be disheartened in year 1 — year 2 reward is spectacular cottage garden drama.

🌸 Strawflower – Dwarf Mixed

Hardy, Compact and Vibrant

☀️ Full Sun 🪴 Excellent in Pots 🌱 Flower Bed / Edging ✅ Easy — Cut & Dry Flowers

✂️CUT

✗

🏠SOW

OUT

🌸FLOW

Surface sow — needs light to germinate. Do not cover seed. Sow Aug–Sep in greenhouse/propagator, transplant out Oct. Flowers in 16 weeks from sowing.
Papery, everlasting flowers. Cut for dried arrangements before fully open for best dried results — they'll keep their colour for months. Compact (30–45cm) habit. Great in pots.

💡 For dried flowers, harvest stems when outer petals just start to open but centre is still tight. Hang upside-down in a dark, dry, airy spot for 2–3 weeks. They'll look amazing through winter!

🏠 Making the Most of Your greenhouse/propagator

Your north-facing glass greenhouse/propagator is genuinely your biggest gardening asset. In Hobart, it lets you start frost-sensitive crops 6–8 weeks earlier than the open garden, effectively giving you a longer growing season. In mid-winter it'll stay 5–10°C warmer than outside on sunny days. Key tips:

Keep it well-ventilated on warm days to avoid damping off (fungal disease from stagnant humid air)
Use your propagators for seeds needing bottom heat (tomatoes, pumpkin, corn)
Hardening off: 1–2 weeks before transplanting, put seedlings outside for progressively longer periods each day
A thermometer inside is worth having — below 10°C slows germination of warm-season crops significantly
Consider keeping a cherry tomato in a large pot in the greenhouse/propagator all season — you may get better results than outside

❄️ Hobart Frost Calendar

Average last spring frost: Late September (can be as late as early Oct in valleys)
Average first autumn frost: Early-to-mid May (can be April in low-lying areas)
Frost-free window: Roughly October – April (~7 months)
Just outside Hobart: If you're in a valley or low-lying area, expect frosts earlier in autumn and later in spring than central Hobart averages suggest. Higher ground is warmer overnight.

🌱 General Sowing Tips

What NOT to transplant (always sow direct): Carrots, parsnip, peas, Californian poppy, beetroot
Start in greenhouse/propagator/propagator: Tomato, pumpkin, corn, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, most flowers
Succession sow (every 3–4 weeks for continuous harvest): Lettuce, carrots, beetroot, radish
Pollinator helpers: Catmint, Bee & Butterfly Mix near your tomatoes and corn will dramatically improve yields
Shade-tolerant options for trickier spots: Lettuce, parsnip, aquilegia — all handle part shade

🪴 Pot, Basket & Bed Guide

Best in pots / hanging baskets
Verbena, Strawflower, Lettuce, Beetroot (deep pot), Cherry Tomato (grow bag / large pot), Herbs

Best in garden beds
Pumpkin, Corn, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Pea (with trellis), Carrot, Parsnip, Catmint, Californian Poppy

Part shade / tricky spots
Aquilegia, Lettuce (especially in summer), Catmint, Broccoli/Cabbage (tolerant)

Great for pollinators 🐝
Catmint, Bee & Butterfly Mix, Californian Poppy, Verbena, Aquilegia, Strawflower

📅 Right Now (Late March) — What to Do

🌱 Sow direct now (March–April): Peas (Sugar Snap), Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrots, Parsnip, Beetroot, Aquilegia (for autumn/winter cold stratification)
🌸 Sow direct now: Californian Poppy (autumn sowing gives earlier spring flowers)
🏠 Start in greenhouse/propagator soon (July–Aug): Save your Tomato, Pumpkin, Corn, and most flowers for July–August start in the greenhouse/propagator
⚠️ Prepare beds now: Dig over veggie beds, add compost, remove summer crop residues before winter