When to Plant Chestnut 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 Chestnut 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
- 5.5–6.5
A large, fast growing deciduous tree that crops in autumn and is at home where winters are cold and summers hot, from the Victorian high country to the Adelaide Hills (Daleys, Chestnuts Australia).
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
The home of the Australian crop: about three quarters comes from north east Victoria, with the season running mid March to July (Chestnuts Australia). Plant in winter while dormant and pick two varieties for cross pollination (Pip Magazine).
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How to Grow Chestnut in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Deep, fertile, perfectly drained soil, sand or volcanic ground; never waterlogged (Daleys, Organic Gardener, InDaily).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 5.5-6.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Heavy or waterlogged ground, Horse chestnut trees, which look alike and are not edible
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Chestnut
Recommended Varieties
- Buffalo Queen (early)
- Bouche de Betizac
- Red Spanish
- De Coppi Marone
Key Challenges
- Chestnut blight in north east Victoria
- Birds at harvest
Pro Tips
- Harvest daily
- Buy clean nursery stock
Pests and problems for Chestnut in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Chestnut
When ready: Burrs split and nuts fall to the ground in autumn (Pip Magazine).
How to harvest: Collect fallen nuts every day, within two days of falling, wearing gloves for the spiky burrs; 2 to 3 nuts per burr (Chestnuts Australia).
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 Chestnut
When do you plant chestnut 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 Chestnut in Melbourne?
The home of the Australian crop: about three quarters comes from north east Victoria, with the season running mid March to July (Chestnuts Australia). Plant in winter while dormant and pick two varieties for cross pollination (Pip Magazine).
How do I know when Chestnut are ready to harvest?
Burrs split and nuts fall to the ground in autumn (Pip Magazine).
What are the best Chestnut varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Buffalo Queen (early), Bouche de Betizac, Red Spanish, De Coppi Marone.
Are chestnut salt tolerant?
No. Chestnut 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.