Hong Kong Planting Calendar

Climate Overview

Hong Kong has a subtropical climate with distinct seasons:

• Spring (Mar–May): Warm, humid, frequent rain. Good for early crops and flowers.
• Summer (Jun–Aug): Hot, humid, typhoon season. High risk of pests and diseases; focus on heat-tolerant crops.
• Autumn (Sep–Nov): Cooler, drier, ideal for most vegetables and flowers.
• Winter (Dec–Feb): Mild, dry, minimal frost risk. Best for cool-season crops.

General Tips:

• Soil preparation: Enrich with compost before planting; use raised beds for poor-draining soils.
• Watering: Irrigate deeply but less frequently in winter; more often in hot summers.
• Pest control: High humidity encourages fungal diseases and aphids; use good air circulation and companion planting.

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Monthly Planting Guide

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January (Cool, Dry Season)

Vegetables to Sow/Plant:

• Leafy greens: spinach, lettuce, pak choi, Chinese cabbage
• Root crops: radish, carrot, beetroot, turnip
• Herbs: coriander, parsley, chives

Flowers to Sow/Plant:

• Pansies, primrose, calendula, cyclamen

Harvest:

• Continue harvesting leafy greens sown in November–December
• Radish and carrot from December sowing

Tips:

• Protect seedlings from occasional cold snaps with light cover or shade netting.
• Use well-draining soil to prevent root rot during winter rains.

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February (Cool Transition)

Vegetables:

• Brassicas: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage
• Leafy greens: continue sowing spinach, lettuce, pak choi
• Herbs: continue coriander and parsley

Flowers:

• Dianthus, stock, primula, pansies
• Start sowing marigold seeds indoors for spring transplant

Harvest:

• Late January sowings of radish, lettuce, and pak choi
• Chinese cabbage sown in January

Tips:

• Start heat-loving crops (tomatoes, eggplants) in pots indoors or under shade to transplant in spring.
• Fertilize leafy greens lightly with nitrogen-rich fertilizer to boost growth.

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March (Spring Begins)

Vegetables:

• Leafy greens: lettuce, spinach, bok choy, kale
• Fruiting crops: tomato, eggplant, chili (start seedlings indoors)
• Herbs: basil, mint, oregano
• Root crops: carrot, radish

Flowers:

• Marigold, petunia, vinca, cosmos, sunflower (start seedlings indoors)
• Ornamental herbs: lavender, rosemary

Harvest:

• Late winter sowings of leafy greens and root crops
• Early radish and spinach

Tips:

• Soil temperature rises; begin transplanting seedlings outdoors.
• Apply mulch to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
• Protect seedlings from late cold snaps.

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April (Spring – Warmer, Rain Starts)

Vegetables:

• Cucumbers, beans, sweet corn, okra (direct sow)
• Tomatoes, eggplants (transplant outdoors)
• Leafy greens: continue sowing heat-tolerant types like Malabar spinach
• Herbs: continue basil and mint

Flowers:

• Sunflowers, zinnia, cosmos, marigold (direct sow outdoors)
• Bougainvillea, hibiscus (transplant or prune for flowering)

Harvest:

• Early tomatoes and eggplants
• Spinach and lettuce

Tips:

• Increase watering frequency as temperatures rise.
• Use stakes for climbing plants like beans and cucumbers.
• Monitor for fungal disease due to rising humidity.

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May (Early Summer – Hot, Humid)

Vegetables:

• Heat-tolerant leafy greens: Malabar spinach, amaranth
• Cucurbits: pumpkin, melon, bitter gourd
• Fruiting crops: tomatoes, chili peppers, eggplants
• Okra and corn

Flowers:

• Hibiscus, bougainvillea, canna, zinnia
• Start summer annuals indoors for late-summer planting

Harvest:

• Early spring vegetables: lettuce, spinach, pak choi
• Early tomato and chili seedlings transplanted in April

Tips:

• Mulch heavily to retain moisture and reduce soil temperature.
• Avoid planting delicate seedlings during typhoon season (May–Sep).
• Apply organic fungicide preventively for mildew and leaf spot.

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June (Summer – Hot, Rainy, Typhoon Risk)

Vegetables:

• Heat-loving crops: okra, eggplant, sweet potato, chili, corn
• Avoid cool-season leafy greens unless shaded
• Cucurbits like cucumber, pumpkin, and melon

Flowers:

• Tropical flowers: hibiscus, bougainvillea, canna, mandevilla
• Start seeds of fast-growing annuals like portulaca indoors or under shade

Harvest:

• Late spring tomatoes, cucumbers, and chili
• Leafy greens grown in May

Tips:

• Protect plants from strong winds and heavy rain; stake or trellis crops.
• Apply organic mulch and maintain good drainage to prevent root rot.
• Watch for pests like aphids, whiteflies, and slugs.

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July (Summer – Peak Heat and Rain)

Vegetables:

• Continue heat-tolerant crops: okra, corn, chili, sweet potato
• Water-loving crops: taro, water spinach (can tolerate wet soil)

Flowers:

• Tropical flowers: hibiscus, bougainvillea, canna
• Heat-tolerant annuals: portulaca, zinnia, marigold

Harvest:

• Early summer vegetables: cucumber, pumpkin, bitter gourd
• Leafy greens grown under shade

Tips:

• Frequent watering; morning or evening preferred.
• Mulch to reduce evaporation and suppress weeds.
• Inspect for fungal and bacterial leaf diseases due to humidity.

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August (Summer – Hot, Typhoon Season)

Vegetables:

• Heat-tolerant crops: okra, chili, corn, pumpkin, watermelon
• Avoid frost-sensitive crops in flooded areas
• Prepare autumn crops indoors: lettuce, cabbage, broccoli seedlings

Flowers:

• Tropical flowering plants: hibiscus, bougainvillea, canna
• Start autumn flowering annuals indoors: pansy, calendula, dianthus

Harvest:

• Early okra, chili, corn, watermelon
• Bitter gourd and pumpkin

Tips:

• Reinforce stakes and trellises for typhoon-prone areas.
• Check drainage to prevent waterlogging during heavy rains.
• Reduce nitrogen fertilizer; focus on flowering/fruiting support.

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September (Autumn – Cooler, Drier)

Vegetables:

• Cool-season crops: lettuce, spinach, pak choi, kale, Chinese cabbage
• Root crops: carrot, radish, beetroot
• Fruiting crops: tomato, chili, eggplant (harvest late-season)

Flowers:

• Autumn annuals: pansy, calendula, dianthus, chrysanthemum
• Tropical flowers: hibiscus, bougainvillea continue blooming

Harvest:

• Summer crops: okra, pumpkin, corn
• Tomatoes, chili, eggplant

Tips:

• Start autumn vegetable sowing in raised beds.
• Reduce watering frequency as humidity declines.
• Mulch to retain soil moisture in drier days.

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October (Autumn – Cool, Dry)

Vegetables:

• Leafy greens: lettuce, pak choi, spinach
• Brassicas: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage
• Root crops: carrot, radish, beetroot, turnip
• Herbs: coriander, parsley

Flowers:

• Autumn annuals: pansy, calendula, dianthus
• Chrysanthemum, marigold, zinnia

Harvest:

• Late summer/fall crops: pumpkin, melon, tomato, chili

Tips:

• Excellent month for transplanting and sowing most vegetables.
• Apply balanced fertilizer to encourage growth before winter.

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November (Autumn – Mild, Dry)

Vegetables:

• Leafy greens: lettuce, pak choi, spinach, kale
• Brassicas: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower
• Root crops: carrot, radish, beetroot, turnip

Flowers:

• Pansy, calendula, dianthus, primula
• Chrysanthemum and zinnia continue blooming

Harvest:

• Late autumn crops: lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage
• Last harvest of tomato, chili, and eggplant

Tips:

• Prepare soil for winter crops by adding compost.
• Mulch to conserve soil moisture.

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December (Winter – Cool, Dry)

Vegetables:

• Cool-season crops: lettuce, pak choi, Chinese cabbage, spinach, kale
• Root crops: carrot, radish, beetroot
• Herbs: coriander, parsley, chives

Flowers:

• Pansy, primula, calendula
• Cyclamen for decorative winter blooms

Harvest:

• Leafy greens and root crops sown in November–December

Tips:

• Minimal irrigation required due to lower evaporation.
• Avoid planting heat-loving crops until spring.
• Protect seedlings from occasional cold winds.

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Additional Seasonal Tips

• Typhoon season (Jun–Sep): Secure plants, avoid direct sowing of delicate seedlings outdoors.
• Rainy season (May–Aug): Ensure good drainage; raised beds recommended.
• Dry season (Nov–Feb): Mulch helps conserve moisture; frost risk minimal.
• Heat-tolerant vs. cool-season crops: Match plant selection to seasonal temperature and humidity.
• Succession planting: Stagger sowing every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest of leafy greens and fast-growing vegetables.

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