When to Plant Blueberry 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.
Jump to section
This Blueberry 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
- May to Sep
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 4.5–5.5
- Shop price
- $24.38/kg
Acid-loving shrub that MUST have acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5). Most Australian soils are too alkaline. Growing in pots with specialist acidic potting mix is the most reliable approach for most home gardeners.
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 P
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep P
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant from late autumn to early spring in acid soil (pH 4.5-5.5) and mulch well. Northern highbush types suit the cold and ripen December to February.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Blueberry included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Blueberry in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- ACIDIC soil, pH 4.5-5.5. This is non-negotiable. Use 50:50 peat moss and pine bark for pots. In-ground only in naturally acidic soils (rare in Australia). Add sulphur to lower pH - takes 3-6 months to work.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 4.5-5.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade. Morning sun with afternoon shade ideal in hot zones. At least 6 hours direct sun for best fruiting.
- Good companions
- Strawberry (woodland types), Dwarf Beans, Lettuce, Cucumber, Tomato
- Keep away from
- Lime-loving plants, Concrete paths (leach alkalinity into soil)
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Blueberry
Recommended Varieties
- Northern highbush: Bluecrop, Duke, Elliott, Patriot, Spartan
Key Challenges
- Late spring frost during flowering
- Short growing season
Pro Tips
- Ideal chill for northern highbush. This is what they're bred for.
- Protect flowering plants from late frost with frost cloth.
- Choose early-ripening varieties (Duke, Spartan) for short season.
Pests and problems for Blueberry in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Blueberry
When ready: Berries turn fully blue/purple, then wait 3-5 more days. Ripe berries detach with a gentle roll of the thumb, no tugging needed. Taste test: sweet with slight tartness.
How to harvest: Pick by hand, rolling berries gently off cluster. Harvest every 2-3 days as berries ripen unevenly. Early morning harvest for best quality.
Storing and preserving blueberry
How to keep it
- Freezing. Spread unwashed berries on tray, freeze solid, transfer to bags. Do not wash before freezing. Keeps: 12 months.
- Dehydrating. Spread on dehydrator trays. Dry at 55°C for 12-18 hours until wrinkled and chewy. Keeps: 12 months.
- Jam. Simmer berries with sugar (1:1 by weight) and lemon juice. Boil to setting point (105°C). Jar hot. Keeps: 12 months.
- Blueberry sauce/coulis. Simmer berries with sugar and lemon juice until thick. Strain if desired. Bottle hot or freeze in portions. Keeps: 6 months frozen.
What blueberry 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 Blueberry
When do you plant blueberry in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to May
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): May to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): May to Sep
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Apr to Jun
- Mediterranean (Perth): May to Aug
When should I plant Blueberry in Canberra?
Plant from late autumn to early spring in acid soil (pH 4.5-5.5) and mulch well. Northern highbush types suit the cold and ripen December to February.
How do I know when Blueberry are ready to harvest?
Berries turn fully blue/purple, then wait 3-5 more days. Ripe berries detach with a gentle roll of the thumb, no tugging needed. Taste test: sweet with slight tartness.
What are the best Blueberry varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Northern highbush: Bluecrop, Duke, Elliott, Patriot, Spartan.
What grows well with Blueberry?
Good companion plants for Blueberry include: Strawberry, Dwarf Beans, Lettuce, Cucumber, Tomato.
Are blueberry salt tolerant?
No. Blueberry 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.