When to Plant Cashew in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
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.
Jump to section
This Cashew 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.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 4.5–6.5
A fast evergreen tree to 10 to 15 m for the dry tropical coast and inland north, grown commercially in the Northern Territory and north Queensland (Daleys, QDAF).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
Cashew is not recommended for Arid / Semi-Arid.
Cashew is an evergreen tree of the seasonally dry tropics that wants 17 to 38 degrees and no frost at all; Daleys says it likes temperatures above 5 degrees (UF IFAS, Daleys). It does not grow outdoors here. Inland winters frost, even though the summer heat would suit it.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Arid / Semi-Arid zone right now, Cashew included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Cashew in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Deep well drained sandy loam, pH 4.5 to 6.5; alkaline soils cause deficiencies and poor drainage kills it (Daleys, UF IFAS).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 4.5-6.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun.
- Good companions
- Sweet Corn, Peanut, Yam
- Keep away from
- Frost pockets, Windy sites, Wet or heavy ground, Paths and washing lines, the apple juice stains
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Cashew
Key Challenges
- Frost
Pro Tips
- Grow pistachio instead
Pests and problems for Cashew in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Cashew
When ready: The apple colours yellow to red and the whole fruit with its nut falls to the ground (UF IFAS).
How to harvest: Pick up fallen fruit wearing gloves, twist the nut off the apple and keep the raw nuts away from skin and children (Daleys, UF IFAS). Use the apple the same day.
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
Common Questions About Cashew
When do you plant cashew in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Feb, Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): not recommended
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): not recommended
When should I plant Cashew in Alice Springs?
Cashew is an evergreen tree of the seasonally dry tropics that wants 17 to 38 degrees and no frost at all; Daleys says it likes temperatures above 5 degrees (UF IFAS, Daleys). It does not grow outdoors here. Inland winters frost, even though the summer heat would suit it.
How do I know when Cashew are ready to harvest?
The apple colours yellow to red and the whole fruit with its nut falls to the ground (UF IFAS).
What grows well with Cashew?
Good companion plants for Cashew include: Sweet Corn, Peanut, Yam.
Are cashew salt tolerant?
No. Cashew 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.