When to Plant Lemon 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 Lemon 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
- Sep to Nov
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Shop price
- $13.00/kg at one shop
The most widely grown backyard fruit tree in Australia. Tough, productive, and fruits nearly year-round in warm climates.
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 P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Lemons, especially Meyer and Lisbon, crop well in Melbourne gardens. Plant potted trees in spring once the soil warms, and shelter young trees from frost in inland districts.
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How to Grow Lemon in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral. Tolerates most soils except heavy waterlogged clay. Add gypsum to clay soils.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun, minimum 6 hours. More sun = more fruit.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Chives, Marigold, Comfrey, Lemongrass
- Keep away from
- Grass right to trunk
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Lemon
Recommended Varieties
- Meyer (most cold-tolerant)
- Lisbon (hardier than Eureka)
- Eureka (in sheltered spots)
Key Challenges
- Frost damage to fruit and flowers
- Slow winter growth
- Citrus gall wasp
Pro Tips
- Meyer is the go-to for Melbourne. More cold-hardy and produces well.
- North-facing wall with overhead eaves for frost protection.
- Pot culture allows moving into shelter during severe cold snaps.
Pests and problems for Lemon in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Lemon
When ready: Skin turns fully yellow. Fruit feels heavy and gives slightly when squeezed. Lemons can hang on tree for months, getting larger (eventually lose acidity if left too long).
How to harvest: Cut with secateurs or twist-pull. Don't tear bark.
Storing and preserving lemon
How to keep it
- Juice freezing. Juice lemons, freeze in ice cube trays, bag frozen cubes. One cube ≈ one lemon. Keeps: 12 months.
- Zest drying. Finely zest lemons (avoid pith). Spread on tray, air dry 24-48 hours. Store in airtight jar. Keeps: 6 months.
- Preserved lemons (salt). Quarter lemons leaving base attached. Pack with coarse salt in sterilised jar. Press down to release juice. Top with extra lemon juice. Seal and leave 4-6 weeks before using. Keeps: 12+ months.
- Lemon curd. Combine juice, zest, butter, sugar, and eggs over double boiler. Stir until thick. Jar hot. Keeps: 4 weeks refrigerated, 6 months frozen.
- Lemon marmalade. Slice lemons thin, soak overnight, boil with sugar to setting point. Jar hot. Keeps: 12 months.
- Limoncello. Infuse lemon zest in vodka for 7-10 days. Strain, add sugar syrup. Bottle. Keeps: Indefinite (high alcohol).
What lemon costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Lemon
When do you plant lemon in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Oct to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Oct to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Apr to May, Sep to Nov
When should I plant Lemon in Melbourne?
Lemons, especially Meyer and Lisbon, crop well in Melbourne gardens. Plant potted trees in spring once the soil warms, and shelter young trees from frost in inland districts.
How do I know when Lemon are ready to harvest?
Skin turns fully yellow. Fruit feels heavy and gives slightly when squeezed. Lemons can hang on tree for months, getting larger (eventually lose acidity if left too long).
What are the best Lemon varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Meyer (most cold-tolerant), Lisbon (hardier than Eureka), Eureka (in sheltered spots).
What grows well with Lemon?
Good companion plants for Lemon include: Nasturtium, Chives, Marigold, Comfrey, Lemongrass.
Are lemon salt tolerant?
No. Lemon 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.