When to Plant Surinam Cherry 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 Surinam Cherry 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
- Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Surinam cherry, sold in Australia as Brazilian cherry, is a fast evergreen shrub 2 to 5 m with ribbed red to near black fruit, picked March to June (Daleys).
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 P
- Apr P
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. No inland report was opened. Purdue says it grows in any soil but not salt, and Daleys asks for moderate water and good drainage; irrigate and protect young plants from frost. Plant in autumn or spring; harvest follows the national listing.
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How to Grow Surinam Cherry in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Good drainage (Daleys); any soil but not salty (Purdue).
- 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 to light shade (Daleys, Nurseries Online).
- Keep away from
- Rainforest remnants and bushland edges (weed spread), Salty sites
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Surinam Cherry
Recommended Varieties
- Brazilian cherry, red (Daleys)
- Black fruited forms (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Fruit fly
- Resinous under ripe fruit
- Weed spread by birds
Pro Tips
- Net the fruit
- Pick when it falls into the hand
- Deseed and chill before eating
Pests and problems for Surinam Cherry in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Surinam Cherry
When ready: Fully dark red and soft (Daleys); the fruit falls into the hand at a touch (Purdue).
How to harvest: Pick daily by hand; fruit ripens about three weeks after flowering (Daleys, Purdue).
Storing and preserving surinam cherry
How to keep it
- Freezing. Deseed, tray freeze. Keeps: 6 to 12 months.
- Jam or jelly. Deseed, chill, tested method, water bath (Purdue use). 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 Surinam Cherry
When do you plant surinam cherry in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Oct
When should I plant Surinam Cherry in Alice Springs?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. No inland report was opened. Purdue says it grows in any soil but not salt, and Daleys asks for moderate water and good drainage; irrigate and protect young plants from frost. Plant in autumn or spring; harvest follows the national listing.
How do I know when Surinam Cherry are ready to harvest?
Fully dark red and soft (Daleys); the fruit falls into the hand at a touch (Purdue).
What are the best Surinam Cherry varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Brazilian cherry, red (Daleys), Black fruited forms (Daleys).
Are surinam cherry salt tolerant?
No. Surinam cherry 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.