When to Plant Acerola in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide

Plant now in Arid / Semi-Arid
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid

In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.

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  1. Planting calendar
  2. How to grow
  3. Local tips and varieties
  4. Pests and problems
  5. Harvesting
  6. Other zones and related crops
  7. Common questions

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This Acerola guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Planting window
Sep to Nov
Sun
Full sun
Soil pH
6.6–7.3

Acerola, or Barbados cherry, is an evergreen shrub of 2 to 5 m, or 1.5 m for the dwarf Pixie, for tropical and subtropical gardens, with bright red soft fruit very high in vitamin C that is eaten fresh, juiced or frozen...

Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

Acerola

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid

  • Jan -
  • Feb -
  • Mar -
  • Apr -
  • May -
  • Jun -
  • Jul -
  • Aug -
  • Sep P
  • Oct P
  • Nov P
  • Dec -

P = Planting window

You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Daleys reviews come from Quilpie QLD where it is recommended for western Queensland with watering, Mount Isa where it loves the heat, Roma, and Majors Creek QLD on alkaline bore water, and a Bundamba QLD plant survived 47 degrees. The shrub is drought tolerant (Morton) but frost below minus 1 kills young plants, so cover them on cold nights. Fruit months are our estimate: the summer crop. Plant in spring.

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How to Grow Acerola in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia

Soil
Most soils including heavy clay (Daleys); pH 5.5 or above, 6.5 better (Morton).
Salt
Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
pH Range
6.6-7.3
Sunlight
Full sun (Daleys).
Keep away from
Paths where the stinging hairs brush skin (Daleys), Frost pockets

Members see the exact salt threshold, how much harvest it loses as salt rises, and what to grow instead. See what members get

Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Acerola

Recommended Varieties

  • Florida Sweet (Daleys)

Key Challenges

  • Winter frost
  • Wind

Pro Tips

  • Deep weekly water in summer (Daleys review)
  • Frost cloth on cold nights

Pests and problems for Acerola in Arid / Semi-Arid

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Browse the full pest library →

Harvesting Acerola

When ready: Fruit turns bright red about 22 days after flowering and softens fast (Morton).

How to harvest: Pick early in the morning every day to every three days, wearing gloves and long sleeves against the stinging hairs (Morton; Daleys). Fruit bruises easily (Daleys).

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What members get

  • Soil and weather from your nearest station
  • An email when it's time to sow
  • Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
  • Price history and price alerts
  • Pest risk alerts for your area
  • Full salt and canning detail

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Common Questions About Acerola

When do you plant acerola in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

When should I plant Acerola in Alice Springs?

You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Daleys reviews come from Quilpie QLD where it is recommended for western Queensland with watering, Mount Isa where it loves the heat, Roma, and Majors Creek QLD on alkaline bore water, and a Bundamba QLD plant survived 47 degrees. The shrub is drought tolerant (Morton) but frost below minus 1 kills young plants, so cover them on cold nights. Fruit months are our estimate: the summer crop. Plant in spring.

How do I know when Acerola are ready to harvest?

Fruit turns bright red about 22 days after flowering and softens fast (Morton).

What are the best Acerola varieties for Alice Springs?

Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Florida Sweet (Daleys).

Are acerola salt tolerant?

No. Acerola are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.