When to Plant Jaboticaba 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 Jaboticaba 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
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Jaboticaba is a slow growing Brazilian tree. The purple black fruit grows straight out of the trunk and branches. It suits warm subtropical gardens and tolerates a pot.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland
Jaboticaba is not recommended for Cold / Highland.
No source shows jaboticaba cropping in cold or highland gardens. Rob Pyne gives a limit of about 1000 m and 32 degrees south, and Daleys says temperate areas are experimental. Frost tolerance is only 'sometimes'.
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How to Grow Jaboticaba in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Free draining soil with moderate water (Daleys). Shallow roots that like regular watering in the dry season (Rob Pyne).
- 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 (Rob Pyne).
- Keep away from
- Windy exposed spots, Overhead sprinklers with salty or chlorinated water
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Jaboticaba
Recommended Varieties
- Sabara (smaller, frost tolerant in Daleys listing)
- Grafted jaboticaba (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Cold and frost
Pro Tips
- Not recommended
Pests and problems for Jaboticaba in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Jaboticaba
When ready: Pick when the fruit is really round and shiny black (RFC Archives).
How to harvest: Pick by hand over three to four pickings as fruit ripens (RFC Archives). Fruit is ready about 30 days after flowering starts (Daleys).
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 Jaboticaba
When do you plant jaboticaba 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 Feb, 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): not recommended
When should I plant Jaboticaba in Canberra?
No source shows jaboticaba cropping in cold or highland gardens. Rob Pyne gives a limit of about 1000 m and 32 degrees south, and Daleys says temperate areas are experimental. Frost tolerance is only 'sometimes'.
How do I know when Jaboticaba are ready to harvest?
Pick when the fruit is really round and shiny black (RFC Archives).
What are the best Jaboticaba varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Sabara (smaller, frost tolerant in Daleys listing), Grafted jaboticaba (Daleys).
Are jaboticaba salt tolerant?
No. Jaboticaba 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.