When to Plant Grape 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 Grape 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 Sep
- Days to harvest
- about 156 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Shop price
- $23.75/kg at one shop
Grapes are a deciduous vine that grows in most climates (Yates), happiest with a cool winter, a wet spring and a long dry summer (SGA, Diggers).
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 P
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Bunnings says grapes suit cold climates and Stanthorpe is a commercial grape area (SGA). The dormant vine is frost hardy; spring shoots are vulnerable (Diggers), so plant on a north facing wall or pergola (Diggers) and shelter from late frost. Plant bare root in winter or potted in spring (Bunnings). Harvest from February (SGA) into autumn (Yates).
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Grape included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Grape in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Free draining, neutral to slightly acidic (Bunnings); not fussy (Diggers).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun, sheltered from wind and severe frost (Bunnings).
- Good companions
- Chives, Garlic, Hyssop, Kiwiberry
- Keep away from
- Cabbage, Radish
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Grape
Recommended Varieties
- Cool climate wine and table types as for cool temperate
Key Challenges
- Late frost
- Short ripening season
Pro Tips
- Warm wall
- Early ripening varieties
Pests and problems for Grape in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Grape
When ready: Full colour, sweet taste and a dusty bloom; grapes do not ripen further after picking.
How to harvest: Cut whole bunches with secateurs, mid to late summer through late autumn (Yates).
Storing and preserving grape
How to keep it
- Freezing. Whole seedless grapes on a tray or in 40 percent syrup (NCHFP). Keeps: 8 to 12 months.
- Grape jam. NCHFP grape jam without pectin, water bath 5 minutes at sea level. Keeps: 1 year.
- Fruit leather. Puree, spread, dry at 60C for 6 to 8 hours (NCHFP). Keeps: 1 month room temperature, 1 year frozen.
What grape 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 Grape
When do you plant grape in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Sep
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Apr to Sep
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Apr to Sep
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Apr to Sep
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Sep
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Apr to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): Apr to Sep
When should I plant Grape in Canberra?
Bunnings says grapes suit cold climates and Stanthorpe is a commercial grape area (SGA). The dormant vine is frost hardy; spring shoots are vulnerable (Diggers), so plant on a north facing wall or pergola (Diggers) and shelter from late frost. Plant bare root in winter or potted in spring (Bunnings). Harvest from February (SGA) into autumn (Yates).
How do I know when Grape are ready to harvest?
Full colour, sweet taste and a dusty bloom; grapes do not ripen further after picking.
What are the best Grape varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Cool climate wine and table types as for cool temperate.
What grows well with Grape?
Good companion plants for Grape include: Chives, Garlic, Hyssop, Kiwiberry.
Are grape salt tolerant?
Only a little. Grape 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.