When to Plant Cherimoya 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 Cherimoya 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
- Oct to Nov
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7.6
Cherimoya is the cold hardy custard apple, a briefly deciduous tree of 6 to 8 m, or 2 to 5 m pruned, suited to subtropical and warm temperate gardens (Daleys).
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 P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. It is more cold tolerant than custard apple and young trees survive minus 3 degrees (Morton; Daleys), but it needs 17 to 25 degrees in the growing season (Morton) and no source shows fruit in a cool temperate garden, so no harvest months are listed. Plant in late spring in the warmest sheltered spot.
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How to Grow Cherimoya in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Free draining sand or sandy loam (Daleys). Root rot in clay (Morton).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.5-7.6
- Sunlight
- Full sun; protect young trees from hot windy sites (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Heavy clay (Morton), Strong wind (Morton), Pond apple rootstock (NSW WeedWise)
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Cherimoya
Recommended Varieties
- Rosa (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Cool growing season
- Frost
Pro Tips
- Warm north facing wall
- Large pot of 35 L or more that can be moved (Daleys)
Pests and problems for Cherimoya in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Cherimoya
When ready: Pick while firm when the skin shows a yellow green tinge (Morton).
How to harvest: Clip with a short stem and ripen at room temperature for 3 to 4 days (Morton).
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 Cherimoya
When do you plant cherimoya in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jun
- 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): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Cherimoya in Melbourne?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. It is more cold tolerant than custard apple and young trees survive minus 3 degrees (Morton; Daleys), but it needs 17 to 25 degrees in the growing season (Morton) and no source shows fruit in a cool temperate garden, so no harvest months are listed. Plant in late spring in the warmest sheltered spot.
How do I know when Cherimoya are ready to harvest?
Pick while firm when the skin shows a yellow green tinge (Morton).
What are the best Cherimoya varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Rosa (Daleys).
Are cherimoya salt tolerant?
No. Cherimoya 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.