When to Plant Curry Leaf 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 Curry Leaf 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.
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
Curry leaf is an evergreen tropical tree grown for its fragrant leaves. It likes warmth, sun and free draining soil.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
Curry Leaf is not recommended for Cold / Highland.
Frost tender tropical tree (Garden Express, Jekka's). We found no source for outdoor growing in cold or highland areas. A pot kept indoors through winter is the only option.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Curry Leaf included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Curry Leaf in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Free draining soil enriched with well rotted compost (Guildford Garden Centre). Adapts to most soils if well drained (Garden Express).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade (Garden Express). A sunny to semi shaded spot (Guildford Garden Centre).
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Curry Leaf
Recommended Varieties
- Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii)
Key Challenges
- Frost
- Cold
Pro Tips
- Keep as an indoor potted plant only
Pests and problems for Curry Leaf in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Curry Leaf
When ready: Pick leaves while they are green and full of flavour (Garden Express).
How to harvest: Pick leaves as needed. They do not keep well, so avoid storing them (Guildford Garden Centre).
Storing and preserving curry leaf
How to keep it
- Freezing. Freeze whole leaves (Garden Express).
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 Curry Leaf
When do you plant curry leaf in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Feb, Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Dec
When should I plant Curry Leaf in Canberra?
Frost tender tropical tree (Garden Express, Jekka's). We found no source for outdoor growing in cold or highland areas. A pot kept indoors through winter is the only option.
How do I know when Curry Leaf are ready to harvest?
Pick leaves while they are green and full of flavour (Garden Express).
What are the best Curry Leaf varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii).
Are curry leaf salt tolerant?
Only a little. Curry leaf 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 Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.