Australian Farmers Almanac: April 2026
Mid-autumn perfection - ideal planting, bare root trees, and classic garden weather
April 2026 Overview Mid-Autumn
April is what autumn should be. The days are mild, the nights are cool, and your garden is in that sweet spot where nearly everything grows well. If you haven't gotten your cool-season crops in yet, this is your last chance before things slow down for winter.
Big news this month: daylight saving ends on April 5. Clocks go back one hour, so you'll get that extra hour of sleep (or gardening time, depending on your priorities). The Lyrids meteor shower peaks on April 22 with good dark sky viewing.
This is also the start of bare root tree season. If you've been planning to add fruit trees to your block, order them now. They sell out fast and the good varieties go first.
Australian Farmers Almanac: April 2026
Mid-autumn on the block — good planting weeks, bare root trees on the way, classic garden weather
April 2026 Overview Mid-Autumn
April is what autumn should be. The days are mild, the nights are cool, and your garden is in that good window where nearly everything grows well. If you haven't gotten your cool-season crops in yet, this is your last chance before things slow down for winter.
Big one this month — daylight saving ends on 5 April. Clocks go back one hour, so you pick up an extra hour of sleep (or gardening time, depending on your priorities). The Lyrids meteor shower peaks on 22 April with decent dark-sky viewing.
It's also the start of bare root tree season. If you've been planning to put fruit trees on your block, order them now. They sell out fast and the good varieties go first.
April 2026 Climate Summary
| Zone | Max Temp | Min Temp | Rainfall | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subtropical | 25-27°C | 16-18°C | 75-110mm | Ideal conditions. Mild, lower humidity. Dry season starting. |
| Tropical | 31-33°C | 22-24°C | 170-230mm | Build-up ending. Dry season approaches. Still humid. |
| Arid | 26-32°C | 13-18°C | 12-20mm | Cooling nicely. Cool nights, warm days. Excellent conditions. |
| Mediterranean | 20-24°C | 11-14°C | 35-55mm | Classic autumn. Rain regular. First frost possible inland late month. |
| Warm Temperate | 22-25°C | 14-17°C | 105-145mm | Settled autumn. Mild days, cool nights. Occasional frost risk inland. |
| Cool Temperate | 17-21°C | 9-12°C | 50-65mm | Cool and crisp. Frost regular in valleys. Autumn colour. |
April 2026 Moon Phases
Lyrids Meteor Shower - April 22
The Lyrids peak on the night of April 22, producing about 20 meteors per hour. With the Moon at First Quarter, viewing conditions are reasonable - the Moon sets around midnight, giving you good dark sky viewing in the early morning hours. Look toward the northeast, toward the constellation Lyra.
Sunrise & Sunset
Daylight saving ends April 5 - clocks go BACK one hour. Days continue shortening toward winter:
| City | Apr 1 | Apr 30 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane (AEST) | 5:51am - 5:51pm (12h 00m) | 6:11am - 5:27pm (11h 16m) | -44 min |
| Sydney (AEDT→AEST) | 7:00am - 6:56pm (11h 56m) | 6:27am - 5:22pm (10h 55m)* | -61 min |
| Melbourne (AEDT→AEST) | 7:29am - 7:13pm (11h 44m) | 7:04am - 5:31pm (10h 27m)* | -77 min |
| Perth (AWST) | 6:10am - 6:28pm (12h 18m) | 6:31am - 6:01pm (11h 30m) | -48 min |
*Apr 30 times in AEST after DST ends. Apparent change includes clock adjustment - actual daylight loss ~17 min less.
April 2026 Planting Guide
This is still good planting weather for cool-season crops. Most zones can plant all the winter vegetables. If you haven't got garlic in yet, do it now — you're running out of time.
All Zones - Priority Plantings
- Broad beans, peas, snow peas
- All leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, silverbeet, kale)
- Brassicas - broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts
- Root vegetables - beetroot, carrots, radish, turnip, parsnip
- Onions, garlic (last chance many zones), leeks, shallots
- Coriander, parsley, dill, chervil
- Bare root fruit trees - season begins
- Apples, pears, quinces
- Persimmons, feijoas
- Olives (Mediterranean zone)
- Winter squash, pumpkins
- Passionfruit
- First brassicas from early plantings
Tropical Zone Specifics
The dry season is approaching and this is when tropical gardens come into their own. You can now plant many vegetables that struggled in the wet season.
- Tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant
- Beans, peas
- Cucurbits - cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin
- Asian greens, lettuce
- Sweet corn
- Dry season is prime season
April Moon Planting Calendar
| Period | Moon Phase | Best Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 1-2 | Waxing to Full | Last plantings of fruiting crops. Harvest. |
| Apr 2-10 | Waning (Full to Last Quarter) | Root vegetables, garlic, onions. Tree planting. Pruning. |
| Apr 10-17 | Waning to New | Composting, soil building. Control pests. Rest. |
| Apr 17-24 | Waxing (New to First Quarter) | Leafy greens, herbs. Good root development. |
| Apr 24-30 | Waxing to Full | Peas, beans, brassica transplants. |
April Livestock Guide
Breeding season is on. Cooler weather is putting condition back on animals and fertility is at its best.
Cattle
- Autumn joining underway
- Bull management important
- Condition improving with cooler weather
- Pasture monitoring
- Worm treatment if needed
Sheep & Goats
- Joining period
- Flush feeding continuing
- Ram/buck management
- Pregnancy may be confirmed (if AI used)
Poultry
- Peak egg production conditions
- Coop weatherproofing
- Reduce ventilation for warmth
- Stock up on winter feed
Bees
- Check winter stores
- Combine weak hives
- Reduce entrance
- Final mite treatment
April Self-Sufficiency Focus
Food Preservation
Apple and pear season is at peak. If you've got trees or access to bulk fruit, this is the time to process them. Bottling, drying, juice, cider - whatever takes your fancy. Winter squash and pumpkins are curing nicely and will store for months.
Energy & Water
This is the cheapest energy month of the year for most. Minimal heating or cooling needed. Solar output still reasonable. If you need to do battery maintenance or system upgrades, now's the time before winter demand kicks in.
April 2026 Key Takeaways
- Daylight saving ends: April 5 - clocks go back one hour
- Bare root season: Order fruit trees NOW - good varieties sell out
- Last garlic window: If you haven't planted yet, do it immediately
- Peak autumn planting: Nearly everything can go in
- Lyrids meteor shower: April 22 - decent viewing after midnight
- Cheapest energy month: Minimal heating/cooling - do maintenance now
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