When to Plant Brazilian Spinach in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
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This Brazilian Spinach guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Nov to Dec
- Days to harvest
- about 13 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 60 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Brazilian spinach (sissoo spinach) is a low spreading perennial ground cover to about 30 cm with crinkled leaves, grown from cuttings in hot humid climates (Green Harvest, Succeed Heirlooms).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Cool Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Plant cuttings in November and December in a pot that can come under cover; Green Harvest says it is unlikely to do well south of Sydney, though a Melbourne grower reports it doing well in a pot. Months derived.
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How to Grow Brazilian Spinach in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Most soils; prefers a moderate to rich loam and dislikes waterlogging (Green Harvest).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun to medium shade (Green Harvest, Daleys).
- Spacing
- 60cm apart, 60cm between rows
- Watering
- Moderate water; avoid waterlogging (Daleys, Green Harvest).
- Grow before it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
- Grow after it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
Give the bed 3 turns before leafy greens go back in. Leaf crops want the nitrogen the legumes left behind.
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Brazilian Spinach
Recommended Varieties
- Sissoo spinach
Key Challenges
- Frost
Pro Tips
- Pot under cover in winter
Pests and problems for Brazilian Spinach in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Brazilian Spinach
When ready: Young leaves once the plant has mounded (Green Harvest, Succeed Heirlooms).
How to harvest: Pick young leaves and tips regularly (Succeed Heirlooms).
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 Brazilian Spinach
When do you plant brazilian spinach 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): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Dec
When should I plant Brazilian Spinach in Melbourne?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Plant cuttings in November and December in a pot that can come under cover; Green Harvest says it is unlikely to do well south of Sydney, though a Melbourne grower reports it doing well in a pot. Months derived.
How do I know when Brazilian Spinach are ready to harvest?
Young leaves once the plant has mounded (Green Harvest, Succeed Heirlooms).
What are the best Brazilian Spinach varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Sissoo spinach.
Are brazilian spinach salt tolerant?
Only a little. Brazilian spinach 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.