What to Plant in August in New Zealand

August 4, 2026

August is winter's last stand — and the starting line for spring. It's still cold, still frosty, still snowy in the far south. But the light is coming back: the days are getting noticeably longer and the sun is doing more. There are two jobs this month that pay you back for months, wherever you live in New Zealand.

The first is to plant another round of hardy greens — silverbeet, spinach, kale, lettuce and Asian greens. Late winter is the lean stretch when your winter crops are running down and spring's aren't ready yet, and a fresh row of quick, tough greens is exactly what carries you through it. The second is the one that pays off all summer: get your strawberry crowns in the ground. August sits inside the strawberry-planting window for every region of the country right now — and in the warm north it's your last call before the window closes. Bare-root crowns want to go in while it's cold, so they settle their roots over winter and race away in spring. Plant them today and you're setting up a summer of berries.

Bonus, if you've got a warm windowsill: you can start a tray of tomato seed under cover for a head start on summer. But that's extra credit — the crowns and the greens are the jobs that matter this weekend.

This guide is refreshed each year with a current-season update. Scroll down for the August 2026 adjustments and the weekend-ahead pattern for your region, then find your town.

This August (2026): what's different this year

Last updated 1 August 2026. At GrowBox, we compare current conditions against long-term averages to flag where this month's advice differs from the classic August playbook for your region.

Here's the honest headline: winter has bitten hard and late this year, and it's not done yet. July brought one cold southerly after another — including the first true blast off Antarctica of the year — and it ran colder and frostier than a mild winter, a world away from last year's near-record-warm July. That cold is carrying straight into the first weekend of August.

How cold? Cold enough to reach the subtropics. Heavy frosts are forecast to settle in through next week and push north of Auckland for a time — which is genuinely unusual for the upper North Island, where an August frost is normally a rarity. If you're anywhere north of the city, keep an eye on the clear mornings and cover anything tender.

The good news for this weekend: it's cold, but calm and dry. Unlike the gales that wrecked planting weekends earlier in the winter, a high is building in behind the southerly — so for most of the country Saturday and Sunday are settled, with hard frosts on the clear mornings and fine days in between. That makes this a properly workable weekend: rug up, wait for the frost to lift, and get the hardy jobs done in the middle of the day. The exception is the deep south, where snow flurries are falling to low levels around Southland and Otago — down there it's a stay-by-the-fire weekend for now.

And the turn is coming. Forecasters are already watching a low in the Tasman Sea late next week that should drag milder air back over the country, especially in the north — the first hint that winter's grip is starting to ease. That's all the more reason to get your strawberry crowns and hardy greens in now: settled in over the last of the cold, they'll be first away the moment the warmth returns.

Everything below is your region-by-region playbook, with this year's hard, late winter baked in where it matters.

What to Plant in Kaitaia in August

The subtropical north is the country's most generous winter garden. August here is cool but frost-free in a normal year, the soil stays warm enough to keep things ticking, and the sun is already climbing back. You can still sow most cool-season crops direct — and your strawberry-crown window is about to close, so this is the weekend to move.

This weekend (1–2 August): dry and settled as the high builds, with cold, clear mornings. This year's cold spell is sharp enough that frost may push even this far north over the coming week — all but unheard of for a Kaitaia August. Cover any tender seedlings on the clear mornings, and otherwise take the fine days: it's a good weekend to plant once the chill lifts.

Get these in the ground:

Strawberry crowns — last call. Your planting window has been open since May and closes at the end of August, so get them in now. Plant bare-root crowns on a low mound so the crown sits proud and doesn't rot in wet soil, 30cm apart. They'll root in over the last of the cold and fruit through early summer.
Silverbeet, kale and spinach — plant well-grown seedlings, 30cm apart (kale 40–50cm). One row of each feeds you through the hungry gap and into spring. The toughest, most forgiving greens you can grow.
Lettuce, rocket and Asian greens — sow direct or plant seedlings. Pak choi, tatsoi and mizuna are at their best in the cool. Four to six weeks to dinner.
Carrots, beetroot and radish — sow direct in well-drained ground. Your frost-free winter keeps these going when the rest of the country can't sow a thing. Radishes ready in three to four weeks.
Spring onions — sow direct, thickly, for a steady supply of pickings.
Coriander and parsley — sow or plant seedlings. Coriander loves the cool and won't run to seed the way it does in summer.
Broccoli and broad beans — keep going. Pick broccoli heads at full size to keep the side shoots coming, and mulch the broad beans to hold in warmth.

Skip this month: Planting tomatoes, capsicum or any tender crop into the ground — even up here it's a few weeks early. Give the space to your strawberry crowns and winter greens instead; those are the jobs that pay off now.

What to Plant in Auckland in August

August in Auckland is the tail of winter, cool and usually mild, and the sun is noticeably stronger than it was a month ago. Frosts are normally light and rare here — but this year the cold is reaching further north than usual, so a little care on the clear mornings pays off. Get your greens and your strawberry crowns in, and you've made the most of the month.

This weekend (1–2 August): dry and settled under the building high, with cold, clear mornings — colder than Auckland's usual mild August, and frosts may reach north of the city over the coming week. Plant mid-morning once any frost has lifted, and throw a cover over tender seedlings overnight. Otherwise it's a fine, workable weekend.

Get these in the ground:

Strawberry crowns — last call. August is the final month of your window (it closes at the end of the month up here), so plant now. Set bare-root crowns on a low mound with the crown sitting proud of the soil, 30cm apart — they root in over the cold and reward you with a summer of berries.
Silverbeet, kale and spinach — plant seedlings, 30cm apart (kale 40–50cm). The most useful winter greens you can grow, and your best insurance against the late-winter hungry gap. Set-and-forget for months of picking.
Lettuce and Asian greens — sow direct or plant seedlings. Loose-leaf lettuces beat hearting types this time of year — pick a few leaves at a time without losing the plant.
Beetroot, carrot and radish — sow direct into well-drained ground. Radish is the quick win; carrots and beetroot sit slowly through the cold and lift cleanly in spring.
Spring onions — sow direct, thickly, for continuous picking.
Broccoli and broad beans — keep going. Pick broccoli at full size to keep side shoots coming; mulch the broad beans and they'll flower and pod through spring.

Skip this month: Planting tomatoes, courgettes or cucumbers straight outside — the ground's still too cold and this year's frosts are reaching further than usual. Focus on the greens and your strawberry crowns instead — that's a summer of berries from a job you do today.

What to Plant in New Plymouth in August

Taranaki's August is honest, cold, wet-ish cool-season weather, and drainage is the gardener's whole game here. Growth is slow while the soil is cold, so lean on well-grown seedlings and bare-root crowns rather than waiting on seed — and get them up on mounds so nothing sits wet.

This weekend (1–2 August): the southerly clears to drier, settled weather as the high builds, staying cold with frost inland on the clear mornings. Soils are cold after a chilly July, so plant well-grown seedlings rather than sowing, and work in the middle of the day once the frost has gone.

Get these in the ground:

Strawberry crowns — last month of the window. August closes your strawberry window, and Taranaki's wet soils make the mound essential: plant bare-root crowns on a raised mound with the crown sitting proud, 30cm apart, so they don't rot. They'll root in over winter for a summer crop.
Silverbeet, kale and spinach — plant well-grown seedlings. Taranaki's cool, damp winters genuinely suit all three. Silverbeet and spinach 30cm apart, kale 40–50cm. Productive right through the hungry gap and into spring.
Lettuce, rocket and Asian greens — sow or plant into a raised or well-drained bed. Cold-tolerant lettuces (Cos types, mignonette) handle August better than the soft hearting types.
Carrots, beetroot and radish — sow direct on raised or mounded rows so they don't sit wet. Slow through the cold, clean to harvest in spring.
Coriander and parsley — sow now. Parsley is slow to get going — soak the seeds overnight first to speed it up.
Broccoli and broad beans — keep going. Pick broccoli regularly to keep side shoots coming, and mulch the broad beans against the cold.

Skip this month: Tomatoes, capsicum, cucumber and pumpkin — their season hasn't started yet. Clear any spent beds, get them ready, and give the space to your winter greens and strawberry crowns instead.

What to Plant in Wellington in August

August in Wellington is cold, short-day, breezy weather, and shelter is everything. A strong, well-grown seedling with a good root ball beats fresh-sown seed in an exposed bed — get a sturdy plant in and it'll hold where a seedling from seed would sulk. A sunny, sheltered bank is also the perfect home for a row of strawberry crowns.

This weekend (1–2 August): a cold, blustery southerly on Saturday eases to calmer, settled weather as the high builds in — and no gales this time, unlike earlier in the winter. Plant well-grown seedlings in a sheltered spot once the wind drops and the frost lifts.

Get these in the ground:

Strawberry crowns — last call. Your window closes at the end of August, so plant now. Set bare-root crowns on a low mound in a sunny, sheltered corner, crown sitting proud, 30cm apart — the cold roots them in for a summer of fruit.
Silverbeet and perpetual spinach — plant well-grown seedlings, 30cm apart. Bullet-proof in Wellington conditions. A row now sets you up right through to spring.
Kale — plant sturdy seedlings, 40–50cm apart, in a sheltered spot. The bigger the root ball, the better it holds against the wind, and the flavour only improves after the frosts.
Lettuce and rocket — sow or plant in a wind-protected corner. Loose-leaf types beat hearting lettuces in August.
Pak choi and tatsoi — sow direct in shelter. Both are quick and cope well with the cool.
Leeks, broccoli, cabbage and broad beans — keep going, and there's still a good window to plant leek seedlings 15cm apart in a shallow trench. Pick broccoli as heads mature, and mulch the broad beans.

Skip this month: Soft summer seedlings you'd be planting into cold wind — they won't thank you. Get your hardy greens and strawberry crowns in on a sheltered, sunny bank instead — they'll shrug off the cold and reward you later.

What to Plant in Napier in August

Hawke's Bay has one of the mildest, sunniest, driest winters in the country, and in August that really shows. While the rest of the country deals with cold and wet, the dry east gets fine, still days that make it the best midday planting window going — and ideal weather to get strawberry crowns settled in.

This weekend (1–2 August): dry and sunny under the building high, with sharper frosts than Hawke's Bay's usual mild August on the clear mornings — but lovely still days in between. This is the best workable window in the country this weekend: plant once the frost has lifted. Frosts land inland at Hastings and in the foothills; coastal Napier stays a touch milder.

Get these in the ground:

Strawberry crowns — last month of the window, and the dry east is ideal. Plant bare-root crowns on a slight mound with the crown sitting proud, 30cm apart. The dry, sunny soil is exactly what stops the crown rotting — they'll root in beautifully for a big summer crop.
Silverbeet, kale and spinach — plant seedlings, 30cm apart (kale 40–50cm). Hawke's Bay's mild winter is generous to all three — you'll pick leaves for months.
Lettuce, rocket and Asian greens — sow direct or plant seedlings. Cool, dry conditions give you crisp, slow-grown leaves with great flavour.
Carrots, beetroot and radish — sow direct. The dry east soil is well-suited to root crops through the cool months.
Spring onions — sow direct, thickly, for a steady supply.
Coriander, parsley and dill — sow now. Soak parsley seed overnight first to get it moving.
Broccoli and broad beans — keep going. Pick broccoli as heads reach full size to encourage side shoots; mulch the broad beans.

Skip this month: Pumpkin, courgette, cucumber and tomatoes into the ground — too early yet. Put the dry, sunny days into your greens and strawberry crowns — the best use of the best gardening weekend in the country.

What to Plant in Nelson in August

Nelson is one of the best gardening climates in the country, but August is still deep winter here — sunny days, cold clear nights, and frost on plenty of mornings. Growth is slow, so lean on tough, well-grown seedlings and bare-root crowns, and make the most of those bright days.

This weekend (1–2 August): cold and frosty on the clear mornings as the high builds, but sunny through the day — a workable weekend once the frost has lifted. Get out in the middle of the day and you'll get plenty done.

Get these in the ground:

Strawberry crowns — right in your window. Nelson's strawberry window runs through September, so you're in prime time. Plant bare-root crowns on a low mound, crown sitting proud, 30cm apart — the cold settles their roots in for a strong summer crop.
Silverbeet, kale and spinach — plant well-grown seedlings, 30cm apart (kale 40–50cm). Nelson's mild days and cold nights make for slow, sweet leaves. Kale in particular gets better after frost.
Lettuce, rocket and Asian greens — sow or plant in a sheltered spot. Cold-tolerant varieties (Cos lettuce, mizuna, tatsoi) handle the frosty mornings best.
Spring onions — sow direct, thickly, for picking through the season.
Carrots and beetroot — you can sow direct on a mounded row, though they'll be slow in the cold soil. Radish is the faster, more reliable pick right now.
Broccoli, cabbage and broad beans — keep going. Pick broccoli heads as they reach full size, and mulch the broad beans.

Skip this month: Rushing tomatoes and other summer crops into cold ground — they can wait. And if a bed's sitting empty over winter, sow it thickly with mustard or lupin and dig the whole lot back in come spring — it breaks down fast and gives the soil a real boost before your summer crops go in.

What to Plant in Christchurch in August

Canterbury's August is properly cold — hard frosts most mornings, and soil barely above freezing. This is the month for the few crops tough enough to take it, and for leaning entirely on well-grown seedlings and bare-root crowns: the ground is far too cold to germinate seed outside.

This August 2026, the cold is digging in harder than usual. A high is settling over the country and locking cold air in place, bringing heavy frosts to Canterbury through the coming week on the back of an already cold winter. It's a frostier start to August than a typical year.

This weekend (1–2 August): cold and dry with hard frosts on the clear mornings. It's workable in the middle of the day once the frost has lifted — but keep it to the hardy jobs, and mulch heavily to insulate the soil against the frosts to come.

Get these in the ground:

Strawberry crowns — prime time. Canterbury's strawberry window runs from now through September, so this is exactly the moment. Plant bare-root crowns on a mound with the crown sitting proud, 30cm apart, and mulch the row. A cold winter settling the roots in is what gives you big berries come summer.
Silverbeet — plant well-grown seedlings, 30cm apart. The single most useful winter crop in Canterbury. Water it in when you plant and mulch the row.
Cavolo Nero kale and Savoy cabbage — both genuinely cold-hardy, and frost actually improves kale's flavour. Plant seedlings rather than sowing, and mulch well.
Spinach — plant a sheltered row under a cloche or cold frame. Tougher than lettuce and a better cool-season pick for Canterbury.
Broccoli, cabbage, garlic and broad beans — keep going. Pick broccoli regularly; mulch garlic, onions and broad beans now if you haven't, to insulate the roots through the heavy frosts ahead.

Skip this month: Direct-sown carrots, beetroot and radish — the soil is far too cold to germinate. Lettuce and herbs from seed outside — too cold yet. Put your effort into the hardy seedlings, your strawberry crowns and a good layer of mulch — that's what carries a Canterbury garden through.

What to Plant in Queenstown in August

Queenstown in August is winter at its most serious — hard frosts almost every morning and cold soil. But there's a real prize this month: your strawberry-planting window has just opened, and the cold is on your side for it. Lean on well-grown seedlings and bare-root crowns, and pick your moment between the frosts.

This August 2026 the cold is especially sharp. Snow flurries are falling to low levels around Southland and Otago this weekend, and heavy frosts are locking in behind them — colder even than Queenstown's frosty August norm.

This weekend (1–2 August): genuinely a stay-warm one, with snow to low levels and hard frosts. Don't fight it. Wait for the worst of the cold to ease next week, then work only in the middle of the day once the frost has lifted, water in with lukewarm water (cold water shocks roots in near-frozen soil), and mulch straight away.

Get these in the ground (once the cold eases):

Strawberry crowns — your window just opened. August is the start of your strawberry-planting window, and a cold winter settling the roots in is exactly what gives you the best summer crop. Once the ground's workable, plant bare-root crowns on a mound with the crown sitting proud, 30cm apart, and mulch. You'll be picking your own berries by summer.
Silverbeet — plant well-grown seedlings onto a mounded, mulched row. Don't try seed outside — the soil is far too cold. Once it's in, it holds through winter and feeds you for months.
Cavolo Nero and Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch kale — both genuinely cold-hardy, and yours is exactly the climate kale is made for; it tastes better after frost. Plant seedlings 40cm apart and water in with lukewarm water.
Tatsoi — one of the toughest Asian greens going. Plant seedlings under a cloche or cold frame for the best chance.
Broccoli, broad beans and garlic — keep going. Mulch heavily if you haven't, and pick broccoli heads as they mature. Overwintering onions are sitting quietly — leave them be.

Skip this month: Anything frost-tender, and all outdoor sowing from seed — the soil will rot it before it germinates. Make this the weekend you get set, then plant your strawberry crowns and hardiest greens the moment the ground's workable — your window's just opened, and the cold's working in your favour for berries.

August spotlight: Strawberry crowns

Garlic was April's hero, broad beans May's, silverbeet June's, kale July's. August belongs to strawberry crowns — because right now, for one short window, the whole country can plant them at once.

A crown is just a bare-root strawberry plant — a little fan of roots with a bud at the top, no soil, no pot. It looks like nothing, and it's the best-value plant in the garden: a handful of crowns for a few dollars becomes a summer of berries the kids pick straight off the plant. The trick is that crowns want the cold. Planted now, they spend winter quietly settling their roots into the soil, and the moment it warms they race away — so a crown you plant this weekend fruits far better than one you rush in come spring.

Getting them in is simple, and there's one rule that matters most: plant on a mound so the crown sits proud of the soil. The single thing that kills a strawberry over winter is a crown sitting in cold, wet soil and rotting. Make a low mound or ridge, sit the crown on top with its roots fanned down into the soil and the bud just above the surface, firm it in, and space them about 30cm apart in a sunny spot. Mulch around (not over) the crown, and that's it.

The timing, by region — and this is why August is the moment: in the warm north (Kaitaia, Auckland) the window's been open since May and closes at the end of this month, so it's now or wait a year. Through the middle of the country — Taranaki, Wellington, Hawke's Bay — August is also your last call. Nelson and Canterbury run on into September. And in the frozen south, Queenstown and Southland, the window has just opened this month — your turn at last. Whichever region you're in, a strawberry crown is a job worth doing this weekend.

Not sure it's the right time for your exact spot, or want the full growing guide? Check our strawberry page — pop in your town and it'll tell you whether your window's open right now.

A few crowns, a mound of soil, ten minutes this weekend — and a summer of strawberries. That's a very good trade.

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