When to Plant Grumichama 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 Grumichama 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
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Grumichama, the Brazilian cherry, is a slow growing evergreen tree of 2 to 5 m with glossy leaves and sweet dark cherry like fruit in late spring (Daleys).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland
Grumichama is not recommended for Cold / Highland.
The tree has survived minus 3 degrees (Morton) and likes temperatures above 5 degrees; no source shows it fruiting in a cold or highland garden.
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How to Grow Grumichama in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Fertile, free draining soil with compost and mulch (Daleys). Acid sand suits it better than limestone (Morton).
- 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; shelter from wind (Daleys review).
- Keep away from
- Limestone or alkaline soil (Morton), Windy sites (Daleys review)
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Grumichama
Key Challenges
- Cold
Pests and problems for Grumichama in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Grumichama
When ready: Fruit turns from red to glossy black and softens, about 30 days after flowering (Morton).
How to harvest: Pick by hand daily as fruit blackens; half ripe fruit suits jam and pies (Morton).
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 Grumichama
When do you plant grumichama in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Mar, Nov to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Grumichama in Canberra?
The tree has survived minus 3 degrees (Morton) and likes temperatures above 5 degrees; no source shows it fruiting in a cold or highland garden.
How do I know when Grumichama are ready to harvest?
Fruit turns from red to glossy black and softens, about 30 days after flowering (Morton).
Are grumichama salt tolerant?
No. Grumichama 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.