When to Plant Lime 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.
Jump to section
This Lime 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
- Oct to Nov
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Shop price
- $17.25/kg at one shop
The most frost-sensitive common citrus.
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 -
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Tahitian lime needs a warm, sheltered spot or a pot that can go under cover in winter. The Rangpur lime is a hardier choice for colder gardens.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Lime included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Lime in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, rich in organic matter. Slightly acidic preferred.
- 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, protected from cold winds. Warmest position in garden.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Basil, Chives, Garlic, Comfrey
- Keep away from
- Cold exposed positions
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Lime
Recommended Varieties
- Finger Lime (most cold-tolerant lime)
- Tahitian in pot (bring under cover in winter)
Key Challenges
- Frost damage
- Slow growth
- Reduced fruiting
Pro Tips
- Limes are the most frost-sensitive citrus. Melbourne outdoor growing is marginal.
- Finger lime is the best option. Native adaptation gives surprising cold tolerance.
- Tahitian in a large pot wheeled under cover in winter can work.
Pests and problems for Lime in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Lime
When ready: Tahitian: pick when bright green and full-sized (turning yellow means over-ripe). Key lime: pick when pale green to yellow. Finger lime: pick when full-sized and slightly soft at ends.
How to harvest: Cut with secateurs. Handle gently.
Storing and preserving lime
How to keep it
- Juice freezing. Juice and freeze in ice cube trays. Keeps: 12 months.
- Zest drying. Zest finely, air dry, store in jar. Keeps: 6 months.
- Finger lime freezing. Freeze whole finger limes. Slice frozen and scoop vesicles. They maintain shape better from frozen. Keeps: 12 months.
- Lime pickle (Indian style). Quarter limes, pack with salt, spices (turmeric, chilli, mustard seeds), and oil. Mature 4 weeks. Keeps: 12 months.
What lime 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 Lime
When do you plant lime 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): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Apr to May, Sep to Nov
When should I plant Lime in Melbourne?
Tahitian lime needs a warm, sheltered spot or a pot that can go under cover in winter. The Rangpur lime is a hardier choice for colder gardens.
How do I know when Lime are ready to harvest?
Tahitian: pick when bright green and full-sized (turning yellow means over-ripe). Key lime: pick when pale green to yellow. Finger lime: pick when full-sized and slightly soft at ends.
What are the best Lime varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Finger Lime (most cold-tolerant lime), Tahitian in pot (bring under cover in winter).
What grows well with Lime?
Good companion plants for Lime include: Nasturtium, Basil, Chives, Garlic, Comfrey.
Are lime salt tolerant?
No. Lime 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.