When to Plant Queensland Arrowroot 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 Queensland Arrowroot 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 Feb
- Days to harvest
- about 26 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Queensland arrowroot is a tall canna, 1 to 2 m, grown for its starchy rhizome tubers and as a mulch and stock feed plant (Green Harvest, Daleys, Jerry Coleby-Williams).
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 P
- Feb P
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Plant rhizome pieces September to February with steady water and thick mulch; it is a lush plant that needs moisture (Green Harvest) and no source covers arid areas. Months derived.
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, Queensland Arrowroot included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Queensland Arrowroot in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Rich, moist, well drained soil (Green Harvest).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade (Daleys).
- Spacing
- 30cm apart, 45cm between rows
- Watering
- Moderate to ample water (Daleys, Green Harvest).
- Grow before it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
- Grow after it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Give the bed 3 turns before root crops go back in. Roots fork and go leafy in fresh manure, so they take the bed after the heavy feeders have used it.
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Queensland Arrowroot
Recommended Varieties
- Queensland arrowroot
Key Challenges
- Water demand
Pro Tips
- Thick mulch, steady water
Pests and problems for Queensland Arrowroot in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Queensland Arrowroot
When ready: Tubers at tennis-ball size, from about 6 months; older tubers go fibrous (Green Harvest, Daleys).
How to harvest: Dig a clump, take the young tubers, replant the rest (Green Harvest).
Storing and preserving queensland arrowroot
How to keep it
- Arrowroot flour. Grate tubers, wash the starch out in water, let it settle, pour off, dry the starch (Green Harvest mentions flour; method not detailed in the sources opened). Keeps: 12 months.
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 Queensland Arrowroot
When do you plant queensland arrowroot in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): all year
- Subtropical (Brisbane): all year
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): all year
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
When should I plant Queensland Arrowroot in Alice Springs?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Plant rhizome pieces September to February with steady water and thick mulch; it is a lush plant that needs moisture (Green Harvest) and no source covers arid areas. Months derived.
How do I know when Queensland Arrowroot are ready to harvest?
Tubers at tennis-ball size, from about 6 months; older tubers go fibrous (Green Harvest, Daleys).
What are the best Queensland Arrowroot varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Queensland arrowroot.
Are queensland arrowroot salt tolerant?
Only a little. Queensland arrowroot are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
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.