Hawaii (low elevation) planting calendar
Hawaii's lowlands are tropical, warm all year with only a few degrees between summer and winter, so frost is unknown below the high mountains. Elevation, trade-wind exposure and the wetter windward versus drier leeward sides of each island affect garden timing more than the calendar does.
What to plant each month in Hawaii (low elevation)
Low-elevation Hawaii has a slightly cooler, wetter winter (roughly October-April) and a warmer, drier summer, but temperatures allow gardening all year. Cool-loving crops such as cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, carrots and tomatoes do best when sown from about September to April, because summer heat at sea level causes bolting, poor heads and poor fruit set. Beans, sweet potatoes, eggplant, chard and green onions can be planted in any month, and okra prefers the warm months. Heavy winter rains on windward coasts and trade winds also affect crops. The months below follow the planting calendar for Hawaii (low elevation) from the Cooperative Extension sources listed.
January
Plant: beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, eggplants, green beans, green onions, lettuce, parsley, peppers, potatoes, radishes, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips
February
Plant: beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, eggplants, green beans, green onions, lettuce, parsley, peppers, potatoes, radishes, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips
March
Plant: beets, broccoli, carrots, eggplants, green beans, green onions, lettuce, okra, parsley, radishes, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips
April
Plant: beets, broccoli, carrots, eggplants, green beans, green onions, lettuce, okra, parsley, radishes, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips
May
Plant: eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, parsley, radishes, sweet potatoes, swiss chard
June
Plant: eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, parsley, radishes, sweet potatoes, swiss chard
July
Plant: eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, parsley, radishes, sweet potatoes, swiss chard
August
Plant: eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, parsley, radishes, sweet potatoes, swiss chard
September
Plant: beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, celery, eggplants, green beans, green onions, lettuce, okra, parsley, radishes, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips
October
Plant: beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, celery, eggplants, green beans, green onions, lettuce, okra, parsley, radishes, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips
November
Plant: beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, celery, eggplants, green beans, green onions, lettuce, parsley, peas, peppers, potatoes, radishes, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips
December
Plant: beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, celery, eggplants, green beans, green onions, lettuce, parsley, peas, peppers, potatoes, radishes, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips
Sources for the Hawaii (low elevation) calendar
- Hawaii Home Gardening, Bulletin 91 (1943), Table 1: Best months for planting seeds of various vegetable crops at different elevations · Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Hawaii (hosted by UH CTAHR)
- Lettuce for the Home Garden (HGV-2) · University of Hawaii CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service
- Carrots (HGV-1) · University of Hawaii CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service
- Bell Pepper (HGV-3) · University of Hawaii CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service
- Sweet Corn (HGV-4) · University of Hawaii CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service
- Home Garden Tomato (HGV-5) · University of Hawaii CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service
- Broccoli (HGV-6) · University of Hawaii CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service
Planting months by plant
| Plant | Plant in | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Beets | Sep–Apr | Vegetables |
| Broccoli | Sep–Apr | Vegetables |
| Cabbages | Sep–Feb | Vegetables |
| Carrots | Sep–Apr | Vegetables |
| Celery | Sep–Dec | Vegetables |
| Eggplants | Jan–Dec | Vegetables |
| Green Beans | Jan–Dec | Vegetables |
| Green Onions | Jan–Dec | Vegetables |
| Lettuce | Sep–Apr | Vegetables |
| Okra | Mar–Oct | Vegetables |
| Parsley | Jan–Dec | Herbs |
| Peas | Nov–Dec | Vegetables |
| Peppers | Nov–Feb | Vegetables |
| Potatoes | Nov–Feb | Vegetables |
| Radishes | Jan–Dec | Vegetables |
| Sweet Corn | Sep–Apr | Vegetables |
| Sweet Potatoes | Jan–Dec | Vegetables |
| Swiss Chard | Jan–Dec | Vegetables |
| Tomatoes | Sep–Apr | Vegetables |
| Turnips | Sep–Apr | Vegetables |
Cities in Hawaii (low elevation)
Which places belong to this region: All Hawaii cities; months here are for low elevations (under about 1,000 ft), such as Urban Honolulu. Upland areas (e.g. Kula, Volcano, Waimea) can grow cool-season crops year-round and differ.