When to Plant Currants 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 Currants 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
- Apr to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
Red and black currants are small deciduous bushes about 1 m tall. They need a cold winter, 800 or more chill hours, so they suit cool temperate and cold highland gardens. Plant in autumn to winter and net against birds.
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 P
- May P
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant in autumn to early winter (Garden Express), or bare root June to August (Planting Season). Redcurrants fruit December to January and blackcurrants January to February (Tasmanian guide). Net against birds.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Currants in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Moist but well drained, not waterlogged (GrowVeg). Currants do not need acid soil.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- Sunlight
- Blackcurrants prefer full sun. Redcurrants cope with part shade (GrowVeg). Shelter from hot drying wind (Garden Express).
- Good companions
- Chives, Garlic, Gooseberry, Elderberry
- Keep away from
- White pines (blister rust host, UK source), Hot windy sites
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Currants
Recommended Varieties
- Blackcurrant: Magnus, Ben Lomond
- Redcurrant: Rovada, Jonkheer van Tets
- Pot grown redcurrant (GrowVeg)
Key Challenges
- Birds
- Late frost at flowering
Pro Tips
- Net the bushes
- Plant autumn to winter
Pests and problems for Currants in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Currants
When ready: Pick once berries reach their final colour (GrowVeg).
How to harvest: Comb strigs off with a fork (GrowVeg).
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 Currants
When do you plant currants 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): not recommended
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Apr to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Apr to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): May to Jul
When should I plant Currants in Melbourne?
Plant in autumn to early winter (Garden Express), or bare root June to August (Planting Season). Redcurrants fruit December to January and blackcurrants January to February (Tasmanian guide). Net against birds.
How do I know when Currants are ready to harvest?
Pick once berries reach their final colour (GrowVeg).
What are the best Currants varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Blackcurrant: Magnus, Ben Lomond, Redcurrant: Rovada, Jonkheer van Tets, Pot grown redcurrant (GrowVeg).
What grows well with Currants?
Good companion plants for Currants include: Chives, Garlic, Gooseberry, Elderberry.
Are currants salt tolerant?
No. Currants 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.