When to Plant Pistachio 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 Pistachio 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
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 7.0–8.0
A small spreading tree for hot dry inland districts with cold winters, the Burra and Mildura country of southern Australia (Daleys, PGAI).
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
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Chill is no problem, but summers may be too short or too wet for the nuts to fill and dry on the tree. Plant in late winter and early spring (Complete Home); InDaily says the cooler months.
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How to Grow Pistachio in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Free draining light sandy loam, never waterlogged; tolerates poor and alkaline soils with a deep taproot (Complete Home, Better Homes and Gardens, Organic Gardener).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 7.0-8.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Complete Home).
- Keep away from
- Humid coastal sites, Overhead sprinklers, Waterlogged ground
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Pistachio
Recommended Varieties
- Sirora with Peter Male
Key Challenges
- Short summer
- Spring rain on flowers
Pro Tips
- North facing wall
Pests and problems for Pistachio in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Pistachio
When ready: Hulls turn from green to reddish pink and split, and the hull rubs off easily (Complete Home, Better Homes and Gardens).
How to harvest: Knock the nuts onto tarps, dehull the same day and dry in the shell (Organic Gardener, Better Homes and Gardens).
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 Pistachio
When do you plant pistachio in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): not recommended
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Sep
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Sep
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Sep
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Sep
When should I plant Pistachio in Canberra?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Chill is no problem, but summers may be too short or too wet for the nuts to fill and dry on the tree. Plant in late winter and early spring (Complete Home); InDaily says the cooler months.
How do I know when Pistachio are ready to harvest?
Hulls turn from green to reddish pink and split, and the hull rubs off easily (Complete Home, Better Homes and Gardens).
What are the best Pistachio varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Sirora with Peter Male.
Are pistachio salt tolerant?
Only a little. Pistachio 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.