The planting calendar Philippines follows two distinct seasons that shape everything you grow. Unlike temperate countries with four seasons, Filipino gardeners work around the dry season (November to May) and the wet season (June to October). Understanding these patterns is the key to harvesting fresh produce throughout the entire year.
This master calendar covers all 12 months with specific recommendations for vegetables, herbs and ornamental plants. Whether you are container gardening on a condo balcony or managing a backyard plot, this guide tells you exactly what to plant and when. Each month links to a detailed guide with full planting instructions.
Understanding Philippine Seasons for Gardening
The Philippines does not follow the spring-summer-autumn-winter pattern of Western countries. Instead, we have a tropical climate divided into seasonal windows that each favour different crops. Here is how the year breaks down for gardeners:
- Cool Dry Season (January to February) brings lower temperatures (especially at night) with minimal rainfall. This is the best window for cool-season crops like lettuce, pechay, repolyo and carrots.
- Hot Dry Season (March to May) is the hottest period with temperatures regularly exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. Heat-tolerant crops like kamatis, talong, sili and okra thrive during this window.
- Early Wet Season (June to August) marks the arrival of consistent rainfall. Water-loving plants like kangkong, gabi, kamote and sitaw grow vigorously with natural irrigation.
- Peak Wet and Typhoon Season (September to November) brings the heaviest rains and strongest storms. Focus on resilient plants like malunggay, alugbati, saluyot and kamote tops.
- Cool Transition (December) combines cooler temperatures with decreasing rain, creating ideal conditions for nearly every crop.
Complete 12-Month Planting Calendar
The table below shows the best crops to plant each month in the Philippines. Click any month for a detailed planting guide with specific varieties, spacing and care instructions.
| Month | Season | Best Vegetables | Best Herbs | Ornamentals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cool Dry | Lettuce, pechay, repolyo, carrots, radish, mustasa | Parsley, celery, kintsay, rosemary | Petunia, marigold, cosmos, zinnia |
| February | Cool Dry | Lettuce, pechay, repolyo, bell pepper, spring onion, patola | Basil, rosemary, chives, mint | Sunflower, marigold, gerbera, petunia |
| March | Hot Dry | Kamatis, talong, sili, okra, kalabasa, ampalaya | Basil, tanglad, oregano, pandan | Bougainvillea, portulaca, adenium, lantana |
| April | Hot Dry | Kamatis, talong, sili, okra, pipino, melon | Thai basil, tanglad, oregano, mint | Portulaca, crown of thorns, bougainvillea, santan |
| May | Hot Dry (End) | Sili, okra, kangkong, sitaw, kalabasa, patola | Basil, tanglad, pandan, luya | Heliconia, gumamela, santan, plumeria |
| June | Early Wet | Kangkong, sitaw, gabi, kamote, pechay, munggo | Mint, tanglad, pandan, albahaka | Caladium, alocasia, ferns, coleus |
| July | Wet | Kangkong, kamote, gabi, sitaw, alugbati, kulitis | Mint, pandan, tanglad, albahaka | Caladium, begonia, impatiens, peace lily |
| August | Wet | Kangkong, kamote, malunggay, saluyot, alugbati, talinum | Mint, pandan, luya, turmeric | Philodendron, pothos, monstera, calathea |
| September | Typhoon | Malunggay, alugbati, saluyot, kamote tops, kangkong | Tanglad, pandan, luya, turmeric | Sansevieria, pothos, aglaonema, ZZ plant |
| October | Typhoon (End) | Malunggay, pechay, mustasa, kangkong, sitaw, labanos | Basil, kintsay, tanglad, mint | Coleus, croton, ixora, duranta |
| November | Cool Transition | Lettuce, pechay, repolyo, carrots, mustasa, radish | Parsley, rosemary, basil, chives | Petunia, marigold, zinnia, cosmos |
| December | Cool Dry | Lettuce, pechay, repolyo, carrots, bell pepper, tomatoes | Parsley, rosemary, basil, celery, chives | Poinsettia, petunia, marigold, gerbera, sunflower |
Browse Our Complete Plant Guide
Explore detailed growing guides for over 150 edible and ornamental plants suited to the Philippine climate. Each guide includes planting instructions, care tips and harvesting advice.
Cool Dry Season (January to February)
The cool dry months are a Filipino gardener's dream. Night temperatures can drop to 20 to 22 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila and even lower in elevated areas like Tagaytay and Baguio. This is the only window where cool-season crops truly thrive in the lowlands.
Focus your planting on leafy greens and root vegetables. Lettuce varieties germinate quickly and produce crisp leaves within 30 to 45 days. Pechay and mustasa grow even faster, ready for harvest in 25 to 30 days. Carrots need the full two months but reward patient gardeners with sweet roots.
This is also the time to start seedlings for the coming hot season. Sow tomato and eggplant seeds in February so transplants are ready when March arrives.
- What to Plant in January (full guide)
- What to Plant in February (full guide)
Hot Dry Season (March to May)
Temperatures soar past 35 degrees Celsius and rainfall is minimal. Many beginner gardeners give up during this window, but it is actually prime time for fruiting vegetables. The intense sunlight drives vigorous flower and fruit production in heat-loving crops.
Kamatis (tomatoes) produce their sweetest fruit during the hot dry months. Talong (eggplant), sili (chili) and okra grow rapidly with daily watering. Kalabasa (squash) and ampalaya (bitter gourd) produce heavily on trellises through the entire period.
The biggest challenge is water management. Mulch heavily, water early in the morning and consider drip irrigation for larger gardens. Container gardens need watering twice daily during peak heat.
- What to Plant in March (full guide)
- What to Plant in April (full guide)
- What to Plant in May (full guide)
Wet Season (June to August)
The wet season begins when the southwest monsoon (habagat) brings consistent rainfall. Natural irrigation reduces your workload, but excess moisture creates new challenges. Fungal diseases spread quickly and root rot threatens poorly drained containers.
Water-loving vegetables like kangkong grow explosively during the rains. Gabi (taro) and kamote (sweet potato) thrive in moist soil. Sitaw (string beans) climb quickly and produce pods within 50 to 60 days of planting.
Raise your containers off the ground, improve drainage in garden beds and apply organic fungicide preventatively. This is also the best time for propagating ornamental plants through cuttings, as high humidity encourages root development.
- What to Plant in June (full guide)
- What to Plant in July (full guide)
- What to Plant in August (full guide)
Typhoon Season (September to November)
September and October are the peak typhoon months. Strong winds, flooding and extended overcast conditions make this the most challenging planting period. Smart gardeners focus on resilient plants that recover quickly from storm damage.
Malunggay (moringa) is the ultimate typhoon-season crop. Even if knocked down by wind, it regrows from the stump within weeks. Alugbati and saluyot are equally tough and provide nutritious greens when other crops struggle.
By November, rainfall decreases and temperatures begin to cool. This marks the start of the transition period where you can begin planting cool-season crops again. Start your lettuce and pechay seedlings in protected trays from mid-November onward.
- What to Plant in September (full guide)
- What to Plant in October (full guide)
- What to Plant in November (full guide)
Cool Transition (December)
December is a gardener's bonus month. Cooler temperatures return, rainfall drops to manageable levels and the holiday season gives many people time off to tend their gardens. Nearly every crop can be planted successfully in December.
This is the ideal time to establish new garden beds, plant fruit tree seedlings and set up container gardens. Cool-season crops planted now will be ready for harvest by late January. Heat-tolerant seedlings started in December will be ready for transplanting when the hot season begins in March.
- What to Plant in December (full guide)
Plants You Can Grow Year-Round
Some plants ignore the seasons entirely. These year-round performers belong in every Filipino garden:
- Kangkong grows in any month with adequate water. It is the most forgiving vegetable for beginners.
- Malunggay produces nutritious leaves continuously. One mature tree provides enough for a family.
- Sili thrives year-round in the Philippines. Plants produce for 12 months or more once established.
- Spring Onion regrows from cuttings and produces continuously. Just cut and it comes back.
- Pandan is a low-maintenance herb that grows in any season and any light condition.
- Mint spreads aggressively in the Philippine climate. Best grown in containers to control spreading.
- Basil grows fast and reseeds itself naturally. Pinch flower buds to extend the harvest period.
Start Your Garden Today
Get premium loam soil, compost and gardening supplies delivered to your door. Same-day delivery across Metro Manila via Lalamove.
General Planting Tips for Every Season
Regardless of the month, these principles apply to all Philippine gardening:
- Test your soil first. Good soil is the foundation of every successful garden. Use quality loam soil enriched with compost for the best results.
- Water in the morning. Early watering reduces evaporation and gives leaves time to dry before nightfall, reducing fungal disease risk.
- Mulch everything. A 5cm layer of dried leaves, rice hull or coco coir retains moisture, suppresses weeds and keeps roots cool during the hot season.
- Start seeds in trays. Transplanting seedlings is more reliable than direct sowing, especially during unpredictable weather. Read our seed starting guide for step-by-step instructions.
- Rotate your crops. Never plant the same family in the same spot twice in a row. Rotation prevents soil depletion and breaks pest cycles.
- Use companion planting. Pair compatible plants to improve growth and deter pests naturally. Our companion planting guide has specific combinations for Philippine gardens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What month is best for planting in the Philippines?
Every month is good for planting something in the Philippines. The cool dry months of January and February are ideal for lettuce, pechay and carrots. March to May suits heat-tolerant crops like tomatoes, eggplant and okra. June to November is perfect for kangkong, kamote and other water-loving plants. December is a versatile transition month where almost everything thrives. The key is matching the right crops to the current season rather than waiting for a single "best" month.
What vegetables grow all year round in the Philippines?
Several vegetables grow all year round in the Philippines with proper care. Kangkong (water spinach), malunggay (moringa), sili (chili pepper), sibuyas na mura (spring onion) and pechay can be planted in any month. Herbs like basil, mint and tanglad (lemongrass) also grow continuously in the tropical climate. These year-round performers are the foundation crops that every Filipino garden should include regardless of season.
How do Philippine seasons affect planting schedules?
The Philippines has two main seasons that directly affect planting. The dry season (November to May) is split into cool dry (November to February) and hot dry (March to May). The wet season runs from June to October with peak typhoon risk from August to October. Cool-season crops like lettuce do best from November to February while heat-tolerant crops like tomatoes peak from March to May. Water-loving vegetables like kangkong thrive during the wet season. Matching your crops to these seasonal patterns dramatically improves your success rate.
