When to Plant Marrow in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
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 Marrow 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
- Sep to Feb
- Days to harvest
- about 10 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 90 cm apart
Marrow is a large, bush type squash, the same species as zucchini but bred to crop at a bigger size.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
- Jan S/T
- Feb T
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep S/T
- Oct S/T
- Nov S/T
- Dec S/T
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Marrow included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Marrow in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Improve the soil with organic matter and a complete fertiliser before planting (Mr Fothergill's). Grow on raised mounds of earth or compost (Gardenate).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- Sunlight
- Full sun. Choose a warm, sunny spot, since marrows love warmth, sun and plenty of water (RHS).
- Spacing
- 90cm apart, 90cm between rows
- Watering
- Keep plants well watered (Mr Fothergill's). Mulch to hold moisture (Gardenate).
- Good companions
- Dwarf Beans, Onion, Sweet Corn, Peas
- Keep away from
- Potatoes
- Grow before it
- Leafy greens and brassicas (Lettuce, Silverbeet, Broccoli)
- Grow after it
- Roots and alliums (Carrot, Beetroot, Onion)
Give the bed 3 turns before cucurbits go back in. Pumpkin, cucumber and zucchini want a bed with fresh compost dug through.
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Marrow
Recommended Varieties
- Long Green Bush
Key Challenges
- Frost
- Short, cool season
Pro Tips
- Start under cover
- Use a sheltered, sunny spot
- Choose bush types
Pests and problems for Marrow in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Marrow
When ready: Pick fruit while small and tender (Mr Fothergill's). Fruits are dark green with creamy stripes.
How to harvest: Cut regularly to keep yields high (Mr Fothergill's).
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 Marrow
When do you plant marrow in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Feb, Oct to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
Can you grow marrow all year round in Canberra?
No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Marrow in Canberra?
Gardenate lists September to January for starting in trays or planting out, and February for planting out. The season is short and the plant is frost tender, so start under cover and plant out only after the last frost, in the warmest, most sheltered spot.
What soil temperature do Marrow need?
Marrow germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 35°C.
How do I know when Marrow are ready to harvest?
Pick fruit while small and tender (Mr Fothergill's). Fruits are dark green with creamy stripes.
What are the best Marrow varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Long Green Bush.
What grows well with Marrow?
Good companion plants for Marrow include: Dwarf Beans, Onion, Sweet Corn, Peas.
Are marrow salt tolerant?
Only a little. Marrow 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.