What’s in season in Australia in September
In September in Australia, the fruit at its best includes avocado, lemon, orange, pineapple and mandarin, and the vegetables include asparagus, baby spinach, broad beans, broccolini, cabbage, red cabbage and celeriac. Just starting: dill, basil, chive, cucumber and mango. Near the end of their season: butternut pumpkin, leek, kiwifruit and sweet potato. This is the cooler south; the tropical north has its own calendar.
Spring begins. Asparagus is the headline, with broad beans, peas, snow peas and sugar snap peas on their way to their best. Oranges and mandarins are still good, and avocados, lemons and pineapples are plentiful. The last of the winter roots and brassicas fade. In the far north, mangoes are starting.
Vegetables 19 at their best or changing
- AsparagusAt its peak
At its peak. Best from September to November. Starts a little earlier in Queensland, around August.
- Baby spinachAt its peak
At its peak. Best from August to November.
- Broad beansAt its peak
At its peak. Best from September to November.
- BroccoliniAt its peak
At its peak. Best from March to October.
- CabbageAt its peak
At its peak. Best from May to September.
- CeleriacAt its peak
At its peak. Best from April to September.
- Globe artichokeAt its peak
At its peak. Best from September to November.
- Green peasAt its peak
At its peak. Best from September to December.
- Red cabbageAt its peak
At its peak. Best from May to September.
- SilverbeetAt its peak
At its peak. Best from April to September.
- Snow peasAt its peak
At its peak. Best from September to December.
- SpinachAt its peak
At its peak. Best from April to May and September to October.
- Sugar snap peasAt its peak
At its peak. Best from September to December.
- CucumberJust starting
New in the shops. Peaks December to February.
- SweetcornJust starting
New in the shops. Peaks December to February.
- ZucchiniJust starting
New in the shops. Peaks December to February.
- Butternut pumpkinLast of the season
The last weeks. Best was April to July.
- LeekLast of the season
The last weeks. Best was April to August.
- Sweet potatoLast of the season
The last weeks. Best was March to June.
Also around, not at their best acorn squash, beetroot, bok choy, broccoli, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, fennel, garlic, ginger, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, onion, parsnip, potato, radish, rocket, shallot, spring onion, swede, tomato, turnip
Fruit 9 at their best or changing
- AvocadoAt its peak
At its peak. Best from May to December. Hass avocados run from May to January; Queensland Shepard fills the gap.
- LemonAt its peak
At its peak. Best from May to September.
- MandarinAt its peak
At its peak. Best from June to October.
- OrangeAt its peak
At its peak. Best from June to October.
- PineappleAt its peak
At its peak. Best from September to February. Grown in Queensland all year, sweetest in spring and summer.
- MangoJust starting
New in the shops. Peaks December to February. In the Northern Territory and north Queensland the season starts in September.
- PapayaJust starting
New in the shops. Peaks December to April. Grown in far north Queensland all year.
- RockmelonJust starting
New in the shops. Peaks January to March.
- KiwifruitLast of the season
The last weeks. Best was May to July.
Also around, not at their best banana, blueberry, grapefruit, lime, passionfruit, strawberry
Herbs 5 at their best or changing
- BasilJust starting
New in the shops. Peaks December to March.
- ChiveJust starting
New in the shops. Peaks November to January.
- DillJust starting
New in the shops. Peaks November to January.
- MintJust starting
New in the shops. Peaks November to February.
- OreganoJust starting
New in the shops. Peaks December to February.
Also around, not at their best chilli, coriander, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme
This guide follows the cooler south, which is where most Australians shop: Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Hobart. The tropical north runs on a different calendar. Queensland and Northern Territory mangoes, for example, start in September, and bananas, pineapples and chillies come from the north all year.
How we decide. Each item carries a score from 0 to 20 for every month of the year. We call 16 or more “at its peak” and 8 to 15 “around”. The scores were checked against Australian growers’ bodies, state government pages and the Sydney and Melbourne markets, and last reviewed on 9 October 2026. Seasons shift a few weeks with the weather and the state, so treat the edges as guides. Spotted something wrong? Tell us at [email protected].
General information only. These guides are not advice about how you should prepare, store or eat any food. Please follow the packaging and the official food-safety guidance from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and your state or territory food authority.