What to Plant Now in the Tropics: October 2026
October is the build-up in the tropics: hot, humid and still mostly dry until the first storms. The dry-season salad garden is finished, so this is the month for heat-loving and wet-season crops, and for getting the property ready before the rain.
Covers: Darwin and the Top End, Cairns and far north Queensland, Townsville, and the Kimberley. 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 Tropical zone
A 15-second silent video summary. The words on screen are written out under the video.
Video transcript
Intro: Holly's Homestead.
DARWIN · CAIRNS · TOWNSVILLE. Plant THESE in October
PLANT NOW. Sweet potato. Okra. Snake beans. Pumpkin. Taro. Ginger
HARVEST NOW. Mango. Pawpaw. Banana. Lemongrass
The full list is below. Plant, harvest, jobs and what to watch for. Tropical zone: October 2026
Outro: hollyshomestead.com.au.
What to plant now
| Crop | Sow or plant | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet Potato | Vine cuttings or slips | Plant before the rain arrives. It thrives in heat and covers the ground as living mulch. |
| Okra | Seed | Loves heat and humidity. Pick pods young, every day or two. |
| Snake Beans | Seed | Much better than bush beans in heat and humidity. Give them a trellis. |
| Pumpkin | Seed | Sow now so vines are established as the wet starts. Give them room to run. |
| Taro | Corms or suckers | A wet-feet crop. Plant at the start of the wet in a damp, rich spot. |
| Ginger / Turmeric | Rhizome pieces | Plant as the wet season starts, in rich, well-mulched soil with part shade. |
| Lemongrass | Divisions | Tough in any weather. A good edge plant and mulch source. |
| Banana | Suckers | Plant now so roots are down before the wet. Stake against storms. |
| Pawpaw | Seedlings | Needs good drainage. Waterlogged roots kill it, so plant on a mound. |
| Eggplant | Seedlings | Tolerates the heat. Chilli and basil also do well now. |
Tap a crop for its full grow guide, with spacing, soil and a printable PDF.
What to hold off for now
Lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, spinach and carrots. These are dry-season crops that struggle in heat and humidity, so sow them again from about April. Tomatoes also drop out: flowers fail to set fruit in high heat and humidity, and disease rises. The dry season, roughly April to September, is the tomato window in the tropics.
What to harvest
- Mango. Mango season builds from October in the Top End, a little later further south. Watch for fruit fly on ripe fruit.
- Pawpaw. Picks all year in warm weather. Harvest when the skin shows yellow streaks.
- Banana. Cut bunches when the fruit is plump and the angles have rounded.
- Lemongrass. Cut stalks as needed. Heat gives strong flavour.
- Chilli. Late dry-season plants keep fruiting through the heat.
Jobs for October
- Mulch 10 cm deep to stop the soil baking and to hold moisture through the dry spell.
- Build raised or mounded beds now so the garden drains when the heavy rain comes.
- Clean gutters, check first-flush diverters and cover tanks with mosquito-proof screens before the first storms. Our Rainwater Harvesting Calculator shows what your roof will catch.
- Cyclone season officially runs from 1 November. Secure shade cloth, tie down trellises and move potted plants to shelter.
- Water early in the morning and avoid midday watering in the heat.
What to watch for
- Fruit fly peaks with ripe mangoes and other fruit. Bag or net fruit and use traps.
- Fungal disease climbs as humidity rises. Give plants airflow and water the soil, not the leaves.
- Standing water breeds mosquitoes. Check tank screens, saucers and buckets.
- Heat stress and sunburn on leaves and fruit. Use 30 to 50 per cent shade cloth for any greens you keep going.
If you keep animals
- Provide shade and clean water at all times, and do heavy work in the cool of the day.
- Worms and flies increase as humidity rises. Check sheep and goats for worms after the first storms.
- Check fences, gates and access tracks ahead of wet-season flooding.
- Snakes are active in the build-up. Store feed in sealed bins to avoid attracting rodents.
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
When does the tropical wet season start?
Usually between November and January. The Top End often sees the first storms in late October and a settled wet from December, while far north Queensland tends to start a little later. October is the build-up: hot, humid and unsettled.
Can I grow tomatoes in the tropics in October?
Not easily. Flowers drop and disease rises in high heat and humidity. The dry season, roughly April to September, is the best window. In October you are better off with sweet potato, okra, snake beans and pumpkin.
What should I plant at the start of the wet season?
Crops that like heat, humidity and plenty of water: sweet potato, taro, ginger, turmeric, okra, snake beans, pumpkin, banana and lemongrass. Raised beds help them drain.