What to Plant Now in Arid Australia: October 2026
October is when the heat arrives in arid Australia. Frost is over, but days are climbing into the 30s and the dry heat is on its way. Plant heat-loving crops now with shade, deep mulch and reliable water, and wind down the cool-season garden.
Covers: Alice Springs and Central Australia, Mildura and the Mallee, far western NSW, the WA Goldfields and the Queensland outback. Windows shown are typical, so adjust for your own frost dates and microclimate. Not sure of your zone?
Watch: what to plant in October in the Arid zone
A 15-second silent video summary. The words on screen are written out under the video.
Video transcript
Intro: Holly's Homestead.
ALICE SPRINGS · MALLEE · OUTBACK. Plant THESE in October
PLANT NOW. Watermelon. Pumpkin. Okra. Sweet potato. Eggplant. Basil
HARVEST NOW. Apricots. Spinach. Herbs. Last greens
The full list is below. Plant, harvest, jobs and what to watch for. Arid zone: October 2026
Outro: hollyshomestead.com.au.
What to plant now
| Crop | Sow or plant | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Watermelon | Seed | Loves the heat. Plant in full sun with deep, regular water. |
| Pumpkin | Seed | Plant early in the month, with deep mulch to keep roots cool. |
| Okra | Seed | A tough crop that thrives in the heat. |
| Sweet Potato | Slips | Heat and poor soil are fine. Keep it watered. |
| Eggplant | Seedlings | Plant now with some afternoon shade. Chilli does well too. |
| Snake Beans | Seed | Sow early in the month. They tolerate heat better than bush beans. |
| Sunflower | Seed | Handles heat and wind. Good for pollinators and seeds. |
| Basil | Seed | Plant with a little shade and regular water. |
| Warrigal Greens | Seed or cuttings | A native spinach substitute that loves heat. Also Pigface and Old Man Saltbush for tough native cover. |
Tap a crop for its full grow guide, with spacing, soil and a printable PDF.
What to hold off for now
Lettuce, brassicas, peas and spinach. They bolt in the heat, and it is too late to plant them. Tomatoes struggle too: fruit often fails to set above about 32 to 35 degrees. If you plant them, choose small heat-tolerant types and shade them, or wait until autumn.
What to harvest
- Apricot. Early fruit starts in warm dry areas in late spring and early summer. Pick when fully coloured.
- English Spinach. Cut what you can before it bolts. Silverbeet holds on longer.
- Parsley. Cut herbs often and shade them from the afternoon sun.
- Onion. Pull when the tops fall over and dry them in the shade.
- Garlic. Lift when the lower leaves turn brown, then cure in the shade.
Jobs for October
- Put up 30 to 50 per cent shade cloth over beds, especially for seedlings.
- Mulch deeply, 10 cm or more, and keep it away from stems.
- Install drip irrigation on a timer and water early in the morning.
- Build windbreaks, since hot dry wind strips moisture fast.
- Check tanks, bores and pumps now so you are not caught out in the hottest months.
What to watch for
- Heat stress and sunburn on leaves, fruit and young trunks. Whitewash trunks, use shade cloth and water deeply.
- Grasshoppers and other pests as vegetation dries and they move into the garden.
- Bore or tank water can be salty. Check the quality for the garden.
- Grass fires. Slash dry grass and keep a clear zone around buildings.
If you keep animals
- Reliable water is the priority. Check troughs and bores, and provide shade.
- Dry feed is declining. Plan supplementary feed before pastures run out.
- Flies and flystrike can still occur after rain. Check stock regularly.
- Snakes become more active as it warms. Take care when handling feed and sheds.
Animal rules differ by state. See our My Council in One Place tool, or the backyard livestock rules by state.
Other climate zones
This page is refreshed every month. Next update: 1 November 2026. General guidance only: always check local conditions, council rules and your own frost dates.
Also in Garden News: why more Australians are turning to self-sufficiency in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow tomatoes in Alice Springs in October?
It is tricky. Flowers often fail to set fruit when temperatures stay above about 32 to 35 degrees. Choose small, heat-tolerant types, shade them and water deeply, or plant in autumn instead.
What grows best in the arid zone in summer?
Heat-lovers such as watermelon, pumpkin, okra, sweet potato, eggplant and native greens. They need shade cloth, deep mulch and regular, deep watering.
How much shade cloth should I use?
About 30 to 50 per cent for most vegetables and seedlings. Fruit trees and trunks also benefit from protection from the afternoon sun.