Grow guide · New Zealand edition

The New Zealand planting calendar

Use this outdoor cannabis planting calendar for New Zealand seasons. Compare when to sow, grow, flower and harvest from September to May, then choose the climate zone closest to your garden for month-by-month guidance.

Your growing zone

Hot & humid Northland, Auckland Temperate Most of the North Island Cool & short season South Island

Season at a glance — Hot & humid

Sow
Veg
Flower
Harvest

Hot & humid growing calendar from September to May
Seed type	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
Photoperiod	Sow	Sow	Veg	Veg	Flower	Harvest	Harvest	No scheduled phase	No scheduled phase
Autoflower	Sow	Sow	Sow	Harvest	Sow	Sow	Harvest	Harvest	No scheduled phase

Hot & humid: Humid summers and muggy autumns. Open-structured, mould-resistant strains and an early finish are everything up here.

Dates that matter

Oct (late)

Labour Weekend

The traditional New Zealand planting-out date — frost risk has passed for most of the country.

22 – 23 Sep

Spring equinox

Days are now longer than nights — the season officially opens.

21 – 22 Dec

Summer solstice

Longest day. Photoperiods begin flowering as nights lengthen after it.

Mar – May

Harvest window

Read the plant, not the calendar: cloudy trichomes, darkened pistils.

Month by month — Hot & humid

What to actually do each month, for the zone you picked above.

September

Sow

Germinate now — an early start beats the autumn humidity.

October

Sow

Plant out; mulch against heat and drying wind.

November

Veg

Last photoperiod sowing; autos away now.

December

Veg

Veg care: deep watering, open canopies.

January

Flower

Flowering begins; watch for mould after warm rain.

February

Harvest

Peak flower. Keep air moving through the canopy.

March

Harvest

Main harvest — get ahead of the autumn wet.

April

Harvest

Late harvests only; watch every front.

May

Off season

Season over. Dry slow, cure well.

Season at a glance — Temperate

Sow
Veg
Flower
Harvest

Temperate growing calendar from September to May
Seed type	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
Photoperiod	Sow	Sow	Sow	Veg	Veg	Flower	Harvest	Harvest	No scheduled phase
Autoflower	Sow	Sow	Sow	Sow	Sow	Harvest	Sow	Harvest	Harvest

Temperate: Reliable seasons for photoperiods and autos alike. Sow after Labour Weekend and compare varieties with suitable flowering times.

Dates that matter

Oct (late)

Labour Weekend

The traditional New Zealand planting-out date — frost risk has passed for most of the country.

22 – 23 Sep

Spring equinox

Days are now longer than nights — the season officially opens.

21 – 22 Dec

Summer solstice

Longest day. Photoperiods begin flowering as nights lengthen after it.

Mar – May

Harvest window

Read the plant, not the calendar: cloudy trichomes, darkened pistils.

Month by month — Temperate

What to actually do each month, for the zone you picked above.

September

Sow

Germinate indoors; harden off after the last frost.

October

Sow

Labour Weekend: the traditional planting-out date.

November

Sow

Last safe photoperiod sowing; top and train.

December

Veg

Peak veg. Tie down, feed lightly.

January

Veg

Final training; sow the last auto round.

February

Flower

Flowering begins; thin the canopy.

March

Harvest

Bulk flowering; watch coastal humidity.

April

Harvest

Main harvest month for most strains.

May

Harvest

Late finishers down before the first frost.

Season at a glance — Cool & short season

Sow
Veg
Flower
Harvest

Cool & short season growing calendar from September to May
Seed type	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
Photoperiod	No scheduled phase	Sow	Sow	Veg	Veg	Flower	Harvest	No scheduled phase	No scheduled phase
Autoflower	No scheduled phase	Sow	Sow	Sow	Sow	Harvest	Harvest	No scheduled phase	No scheduled phase

Cool & short season: Short summers, cool nights, early frosts. Autos and fast photoperiods only — the short southern season rewards a quick finish.

Dates that matter

Oct (late)

Labour Weekend

The traditional New Zealand planting-out date — frost risk has passed for most of the country.

22 – 23 Sep

Spring equinox

Days are now longer than nights — the season officially opens.

21 – 22 Dec

Summer solstice

Longest day. Photoperiods begin flowering as nights lengthen after it.

Mar – May

Harvest window

Read the plant, not the calendar: cloudy trichomes, darkened pistils.

Month by month — Cool & short season

What to actually do each month, for the zone you picked above.

September

Off season

Too early — soil is cold. Prepare beds and plan.

October

Sow

Germinate indoors; out after the last frost, late in the month.

November

Sow

Last sowing for everything. Fast finishers only.

December

Veg

Veg hard through the long southern days.

January

Veg

Final training; October autos begin flowering.

February

Flower

Flowering. Cold nights bring out colour.

March

Harvest

Harvest fast finishers; watch overnight lows.

April

Off season

Final harvests before frost.

May

Off season

Season over. Clean up and cure.

Planning your season

How to use this New Zealand outdoor cannabis calendar

Choose the climate zone closest to your garden, then compare the photoperiod and autoflower rows. Each row shows a typical outdoor window for sowing, vegetative growth, flowering and harvest from September to May.

Use the dates as planning guidance, not a fixed promise. Local frost, rainfall, humidity, daylight and cultivar flowering time can shift the season. Read the monthly notes and check current New Zealand rules before buying, germinating or growing cannabis seeds.

Read the New Zealand outdoor grow guide Check cannabis laws in New Zealand