When to Plant Kiwifruit 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 Kiwifruit 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
Kiwifruit is a vigorous deciduous climbing vine that needs a sturdy pergola or fence. Plants are male or female, so you need both. Plant dormant vines in winter.
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
Plant in winter while dormant. Hayward and other standard varieties get the winter chill they need here. Cooler areas harvest later (Love the Garden). Shelter from spring frost, which can damage new shoots and flower buds (our inference, see gaps). Psa bacterial canker is established in Victoria (Agriculture Victoria).
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Kiwifruit in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Free draining soil. Kiwifruit hate wet feet (Love the Garden). Acidic soil suits it.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Love the Garden).
- Keep away from
- Waterlogged soil, Frost pockets
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Kiwifruit
Recommended Varieties
- Hayward (standard, needs more chill)
- Dexter, Bruno, Sweetie, Waynes, H4 (lower chill, Daleys)
- Kiwiberry Issai (hardy, self fertile)
Key Challenges
- Psa bacterial canker
- Spring frost
Pro Tips
- Buy clean stock
- Prune in winter, not too hard
Pests and problems for Kiwifruit in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Kiwifruit
What kiwifruit costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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 Kiwifruit
When do you plant kiwifruit 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): Jul to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Kiwifruit in Melbourne?
Plant in winter while dormant. Hayward and other standard varieties get the winter chill they need here. Cooler areas harvest later (Love the Garden). Shelter from spring frost, which can damage new shoots and flower buds (our inference, see gaps). Psa bacterial canker is established in Victoria (Agriculture Victoria).
What are the best Kiwifruit varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Hayward (standard, needs more chill), Dexter, Bruno, Sweetie, Waynes, H4 (lower chill, Daleys), Kiwiberry Issai (hardy, self fertile).
Are kiwifruit salt tolerant?
No. Kiwifruit 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.