Australian Climate Zone Planting Guide
WHAT IS A CLIMATE ZONE?
"Climate zones" define regions that are characterised by a distinct climate. Since Australia covers a large area, Australia has regions that experience different climates — we often say "the Australian climate" but in reality there is no "one-size-fits-all" climate that defines Australia. Climate zones are classified by long-term weather for a particular region, generally focusing on temperature, humidity, and rainfall.
Identifying your climate zone is an important aspect of backyard gardening. Climate zones can help you plan when to sow seeds, what varieties perform well in your region, the length of your growing season, when to harvest your crop, and what curve-balls you may experience along your journey. You may have more success in your garden by growing varieties that are in season and suited to your region.
DOES MY CLIMATE ZONE REALLY EVEN MATTER?
Maybe and maybe not. This is a tough one. Can you successfully grow plants that are not suited to your climate zone? Absolutely! There are no hard rules when it comes to gardening, only experiments. Can climate zones help you plan the best time to sow your seeds? Yes! Climate zones describe the type of environmental conditions that occur in a location throughout the seasons. When it comes to gardening, this usually has to do with the temperature. In many areas in Australia, we combat the extremes of weather. We can see extreme hot and cold temperatures. Planting in line with the recommendations from your climate zone can help you avoid stressing your garden out during these extreme shifts.
Take, for example, today's temperatures around Australia. It is around mid-November, which also means mid-spring, and the temperatures around Australia are significantly varied. Here in Brisbane, a subtropical climate, it is sunny with a top of 30°C. Melbourne is considered a cool climate, and the top temperature in Melbourne today is expected to get to 15°C — only two weeks out from summer! Our tropical climates, in places like Darwin, are cracking over 30°C and experiencing summer rain and storms. Temperate climates — like Adelaide — are rainy and below 20°C, and central Australia (our arid climates) is hot and dry.
As you can see, the Australian climate can change drastically depending on where you are located. Understanding what climate zone you are in can help you time your gardening practices around seasonal changes, rainfall, and temperatures. Here at The Aussie Seed Shed, we are all about working with our environment and our backyard ecosystems. Attempting to grow plants that are not suited to your climatic region, or are not suited to the time of year or season, is essentially working against the ecosystem and will make more work for you in the garden. That being said, climates, temperatures, and the weather is not set in stone from year to year. So use our Australian Climate Zone Planting Guide as just that.. a guide! If you know the temperatures have been cooler than normal this season and it suits a certain type of crop — go for it! If you are on the border of one of the climate zones and you think your climate fits in with one zone more than the other — follow the one you think is better suited!
ABOUT AUSTRALIA'S CLIMATE ZONES
Climate zone borders and definitions vary depending on who you ask. Our Australian Climate Zone Planting Guide is developed from temperature and humidity readings around Australia and is based on the Bureau of Meteorology Climate Classification Maps (you can check them out here) with a few slight changes to suit the gardening world.
Our Australian Climate Zone Planting Guide divides Australia up into five key climates.
Tropical (deep-orange) — Hot and wet summers. High humidity. Comparatively high temperatures throughout the entire year. No frost in winter.
Subtropical (peach) — Overall mild climate compared to the other zones in Australia. Sits in the 'middle' of the Australian extremes. Wet summers. High humidity. Minimal frosts (if at all). Mild winters with usually minimal rainfall.
Arid (yellow) — Generally central Australia. Can experience the extremes. Summer can be quite hot and extremely dry. Winter climates change depending on how far your location is from the equator. Northern arid climates can experience warm winters and southern arid climates can experience the bitter cold. Drought is common in these areas with high evaporation rates experienced in these climates.
Temperate (green) — Warm (but not overly hot) summers and comparatively mild winters. Not overly humid. Consistent rainfall throughout the year. Can experience light frost throughout inland temperate climates (usually not the case in coastal areas, but still possible).
Cool (blue) — Mild summers. Bitter winters. Heavy frosts and heavy snow in some regions. Usually a very short spring growing season (depending on soil temperature). Low humidity.
WHAT CAN I GROW IN MY CLIMATE ZONE?
Check out our comprehensive guide on what you can sow (and when) in your climate zone.
