When to Plant Cherry 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 Cherry 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
- Jun to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- neutral (SGA)
Cherry is a deciduous tree that wants cold winters and a cooler, less humid climate. Most sweet cherries need 700 to 1400 chill hours, but a few low chill types fruit from November in warm areas.
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 P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Cherries prefer cooler, less humid climates and suit much of the southern states (SGA). Stella and Sunburst ripen in December, Morello late December to January (SGA). Avoid frosty pockets, since blossom is hit by late frost.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Cherry in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Deep, well draining soil rich in organic matter, neutral pH (SGA).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- neutral (SGA)
- Sunlight
- Full sun (SGA).
- Good companions
- Chives, Dill, Borage, Thyme, Calendula
- Keep away from
- Fennel, Mint, Sunflower, Sweet Corn
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Cherry
Recommended Varieties
- Minnie Royal, Royal Lee, Royal Crimson, Pretty Gully (low chill, Daleys)
- Lapins, Stella, Sunburst, Starkrimson (self fertile)
- Black Boy, Trixzie White Cherree (cool climates)
Key Challenges
- Late frost on blossom
- Birds
- Cherry slug
Pro Tips
- Avoid frost pockets
- Net the tree
Pests and problems for Cherry in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Cherry
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 Cherry
When do you plant cherry in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Cherry in Melbourne?
Cherries prefer cooler, less humid climates and suit much of the southern states (SGA). Stella and Sunburst ripen in December, Morello late December to January (SGA). Avoid frosty pockets, since blossom is hit by late frost.
What are the best Cherry varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Minnie Royal, Royal Lee, Royal Crimson, Pretty Gully (low chill, Daleys), Lapins, Stella, Sunburst, Starkrimson (self fertile), Black Boy, Trixzie White Cherree (cool climates).
What grows well with Cherry?
Good companion plants for Cherry include: Chives, Dill, Borage, Thyme, Calendula.
Are cherry salt tolerant?
No. Cherry 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.