When to Plant Mandarin in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Plant October to November. Right now in October you can plant.

Planting window
Plant in spring against a warm wall or in a large pot. Mandarins survive the winters here but fruit may be less sweet than in warmer...
Sunlight
Full sun. 6+ hours direct.
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Shop price
$3.80/kg average

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Mandarin 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.

Mandarin

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Easy-peel citrus that's extremely popular in Australian home gardens. Huge variety range from early to late season, covering harvest from April to November. Imperial is the classic Australian variety. Trees are generally smaller and more compact than oranges or grapefruit, making them excellent for suburban gardens. Grafted trees fruit in 2-3 years. Most varieties produce heavy crops of sweet, easy-to-peel fruit that kids love.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - - P P -

P = Planting window

Plant in spring against a warm wall or in a large pot. Mandarins survive the winters here but fruit may be less sweet than in warmer districts.

Want a nudge when it is Mandarin sowing time in Canberra?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Mandarin included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

This month 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.

The full twelve months are on the Cold / Highland zone page.

How to Grow Mandarin in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Plant in spring against a warm wall or in a large pot. Mandarins survive the winters here but fruit may be less sweet than in warmer districts.

Soil
Well-drained, slightly acidic. Reasonable tolerance of various soils.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun. 6+ hours direct.

Companion plants: Nasturtium, Comfrey, Marigold

Avoid planting near: Grass to trunk

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Mandarin

Recommended Varieties

  • Satsuma (only realistic option)

Key Challenges

  • Frost damage
  • Short growing season

Pro Tips

  • Satsuma in the most sheltered spot available. Accept reduced yield.
  • Pot culture with winter protection is safer.

Harvesting Mandarin

When ready: Full colour development (orange). Easy peel test, skin separates easily. Taste test is definitive. Sweeter the longer left on tree (within reason).

How to harvest: Cut with secateurs leaving short stub, or twist-pull gently.

Where to next

What mandarin costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this October: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Celeriac and Kohlrabi.

The pest most likely to find your mandarin: Queensland Fruit Fly.

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $3.80/kg (12-month range: $2.50–$10.53)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

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Common Questions About Mandarin

When do you plant mandarin in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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.