When to Plant Kiwifruit 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.
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This Kiwifruit 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
- Jun to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun
Kiwifruit is a vigorous deciduous climbing vine that needs a sturdy pergola or fence. Plants are male or female, so you need both. Plant dormant vines in winter.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
No arid zone source. A sturdy, sheltered trellis, regular water and mulch are needed (Love the Garden). Hot dry summers and hard winter frosts are the limits. Harvest months are our estimate.
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How to Grow Kiwifruit in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Free draining soil. Kiwifruit hate wet feet (Love the Garden). Acidic soil suits it.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Love the Garden).
- Keep away from
- Waterlogged soil, Frost pockets
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Kiwifruit
Recommended Varieties
- Hayward (standard, needs more chill)
- Dexter, Bruno, Sweetie, Waynes, H4 (lower chill, Daleys)
- Kiwiberry Issai (hardy, self fertile)
Key Challenges
- Dry heat
- Frost
Pro Tips
- Mulch the root zone
- Water regularly in flowering and fruiting
Pests and problems for Kiwifruit in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Kiwifruit
What kiwifruit costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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 Kiwifruit
When do you plant kiwifruit in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jul to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Kiwifruit in Alice Springs?
No arid zone source. A sturdy, sheltered trellis, regular water and mulch are needed (Love the Garden). Hot dry summers and hard winter frosts are the limits. Harvest months are our estimate.
What are the best Kiwifruit varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Hayward (standard, needs more chill), Dexter, Bruno, Sweetie, Waynes, H4 (lower chill, Daleys), Kiwiberry Issai (hardy, self fertile).
Are kiwifruit salt tolerant?
No. Kiwifruit 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.