When to Plant Blackberry in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.
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This Blackberry guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Jun to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- about 6 (GrowVeg)
Wild blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg.) is a Weed of National Significance and is declared in every state and territory. Grow only named thornless garden cultivars such as Chester or Thornfree.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Suits medium to cold climates (Fruit Tree Lane). Frost tolerant (GrowVeg). Fruit January to March (Nurseries Online), later in the cold. Harvest months are not zone specific.
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How to Grow Blackberry in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Fertile soil enriched with compost, pH about 6 (GrowVeg).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- about 6 (GrowVeg)
- Sunlight
- Full sun in cool areas. Shelter from hot afternoon sun in warm temperate areas (Fruit Tree Lane).
- Keep away from
- Bushland edges, Warm winter sites
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Blackberry
Recommended Varieties
- Chester (later fruiting)
- Thornfree
- Waldo, Adrienne
Key Challenges
- Short season
- Birds
Pro Tips
- Trellis in full sun
- Net the trellis
Pests and problems for Blackberry in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Blackberry
How to harvest: Pick over a long season as the fruit ripens (GrowVeg).
What blackberry 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 Blackberry
When do you plant blackberry 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): Jun to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Blackberry in Canberra?
Suits medium to cold climates (Fruit Tree Lane). Frost tolerant (GrowVeg). Fruit January to March (Nurseries Online), later in the cold. Harvest months are not zone specific.
What are the best Blackberry varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Chester (later fruiting), Thornfree, Waldo, Adrienne.
Are blackberry salt tolerant?
No. Blackberry 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 Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.