Australian Farmers Almanac: February 2026
Late summer guide with solar eclipse, planting tips, and zone-by-zone breakdown
February 2026 Overview
February's arrived, and if you survived January, well done. The good news is we're past the worst of the summer heat for most zones. The bad news? It's still pretty warm, and those of us in the subtropical and tropical zones are getting hammered by the wet season.
This month brings us something a bit special - an annular solar eclipse on February 17. It won't be total for Australia, but we'll get a decent partial view. More on that below.
For the garden, February is transition time. We're starting to think about autumn plantings while still harvesting the last of the summer crops. The monsoon zones are in full swing, and the dry zones are counting down to cooler weather.
February 2026 Climate Summary
| Zone | Max Temp | Min Temp | Rainfall | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subtropical | 28-31°C | 20-23°C | 200-275mm | Wet season continues. Storms, humidity high. |
| Tropical | 31-33°C | 24-26°C | 570-780mm | Peak wet season. Cyclone risk. Flooding possible. |
| Arid | 34-40°C | 20-24°C | 45-65mm | Still very hot. Summer storms possible. |
| Mediterranean | 27-32°C | 16-19°C | 15-25mm | Hot and dry. Fire danger remains high. |
| Warm Temperate | 26-28°C | 19-21°C | 150-210mm | Often wettest month. Humid. Storms. |
| Cool Temperate | 21-26°C | 12-15°C | 60-85mm | Pleasant. Some hot days possible. |
February 2026 Moon Phases & Astronomical Events
Moon Phases
Solar Eclipse - February 17, 2026
This is an annular eclipse, meaning the Moon doesn't completely cover the Sun - you get that brilliant "ring of fire" effect. Unfortunately, the annular path misses Australia entirely (it crosses Antarctica and the Atlantic). But we still get a partial eclipse worth watching.
| Location | Coverage | Start | Maximum | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | ~35% | 8:15am | 9:20am | 10:30am |
| Sydney | ~40% | 8:05am | 9:15am | 10:30am |
| Melbourne | ~45% | 8:00am | 9:10am | 10:25am |
| Adelaide | ~35% | 7:45am | 8:50am | 10:00am |
| Perth | ~25% | 6:30am | 7:30am | 8:35am |
Sunrise & Sunset
Days continue to shorten through February as we head toward autumn. Here's how daylight changes across the month:
| City | Feb 1 | Feb 28 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane (AEST) | 5:11am - 6:35pm (13h 24m) | 5:30am - 6:19pm (12h 49m) | -35 min |
| Sydney (AEDT) | 6:10am - 8:03pm (13h 53m) | 6:35am - 7:40pm (13h 05m) | -48 min |
| Melbourne (AEDT) | 6:28am - 8:35pm (14h 07m) | 6:58am - 8:05pm (13h 07m) | -60 min |
| Perth (AWST) | 5:28am - 7:17pm (13h 49m) | 5:48am - 7:00pm (13h 12m) | -37 min |
Trend: Noticeable shortening - Melbourne loses a full hour this month. Plan outdoor work accordingly.
February 2026 Planting Guide
February is when smart gardeners start planning for autumn. The heat's still limiting what you can plant, but there's more opportunity than January. The key is knowing your zone.
Subtropical Zone (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Northern Rivers)
- Beans - bush and climbing (shade helps)
- Asian greens under 50% shade
- Sweet corn (last chance)
- Start brassica seedlings in trays
- Green manure crops for tired beds
- Tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant (finishing)
- Mangoes, lychees, passionfruit
- Bananas, pawpaw
- Cucumber, beans, corn
Tropical Zone (Cairns, Darwin, Broome)
- Snake beans, yard-long beans
- Kangkong (loves the wet)
- Sweet potato continues
- Tropical greens tolerant of humidity
- Mangoes finishing
- Rambutan, durian (if you're into that)
- Bananas ongoing
- Whatever survived the floods
Mediterranean & Arid Zones
- Heat-tolerant lettuce (late month)
- Start brassica seedlings indoors
- Green manure as beds empty
- Plan autumn garden - order seeds now
- Grapes at peak (wine country busy)
- Stone fruit finishing
- Figs, melons
- Almonds
Warm & Cool Temperate Zones
- Beans (bush varieties)
- Asian greens, lettuce (shade)
- Start brassica seedlings
- Green manure for spent beds
- Order autumn seeds now
- Tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant
- Stone fruit, grapes, figs
- Beans, corn, cucurbits
- Passionfruit
February Moon Planting Calendar
| Period | Moon Phase | Best Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1-9 | Waning (Full to Last Quarter) | Root crops, harvest, preserving. Pruning. |
| Feb 9-17 | Waning to New | Rest period. Soil improvement. Composting. |
| Feb 17 | New Moon + Eclipse | Traditionally a powerful planting day. Start brassica seeds. |
| Feb 17-24 | Waxing (New to First Quarter) | Leafy greens, herbs. Good root development. |
| Feb 24-28 | Waxing to Full | Fruiting crops, above-ground vegetables. |
February 2026 Livestock Guide
Heat stress is still a factor, but we're past the worst of it. Time to start thinking about autumn breeding programs and getting condition back on animals that struggled through summer.
Cattle
- Continue heat management
- Prepare for autumn joining
- Bull soundness testing
- Parasite monitoring
- Early weaning if conditions poor
Sheep
- Pre-joining preparation
- Condition scoring ewes
- Worm burden check (FEC testing)
- Flushing can begin late month
Poultry
- Production slowly improving
- Moult may begin older birds
- Wet litter management (humid zones)
- Coccidiosis watch
Bees
- Honey flow may slow in some areas
- Check stores if prolonged wet
- Swarm prevention ongoing
- Queen assessment
February Self-Sufficiency Focus
Water Management
The eastern states should be getting good rainfall this month - tanks should be topping up nicely. Mediterranean and arid zones, you're still in conservation mode. Another month of careful use before autumn relief.
Food Preservation
This is the tail end of stone fruit season and peak grape season. If you haven't made jam or dried fruit yet, you're running out of time. Wine country is in full vintage mode - if you're near a winery, there might be grape seconds available cheap.
Energy Planning
Solar output remains excellent. Air conditioning demand starting to ease compared to January. If you've got batteries, you should be building up some decent credits. Start thinking about whether your system needs any maintenance before winter when output drops.
February Pest & Disease Watch
The combination of warmth and humidity (especially in the eastern states) creates perfect conditions for fungal problems. Stay vigilant.
| Pest/Disease | Risk Level | Zones Most Affected | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit Fly | Very High | All except cool temperate | Traps essential. Harvest promptly. |
| Fungal diseases | Very High | Subtropical, Tropical, Warm Temp | Improve airflow. Preventive copper spray. |
| Blight (tomatoes) | High | Humid zones | Remove affected leaves. Copper treatment. |
| Coccidiosis (poultry) | High | Wet litter conditions | Keep litter dry. Apple cider vinegar in water. |
February 2026 Key Takeaways
- Don't miss the eclipse: February 17 - get your solar glasses sorted
- Transition mindset: Start planning autumn garden while finishing summer harvest
- Grape season: Peak time for wine grapes - processing and preserving opportunity
- Breeding prep: Livestock breeding season approaches - get condition on animals
- Fungal vigilance: Humidity means disease pressure - prevention is key
- Order seeds: Autumn varieties go fast - order now for March planting
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