When to Plant Lychee 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 Lychee 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.
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Lychee is a slow growing evergreen tree grown for its sweet, juicy fruit with a rough red skin. It wants a frost free site, shelter from wind and regular water.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Cool Temperate
Lychee is not recommended for Cool Temperate.
Lychees need frost free sites and dry, brief winters (FAO). Daleys says it prefers temperatures above 5°C. No source shows a crop in a cool temperate garden. A potted tree under cover would grow but is unlikely to fruit.
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How to Grow Lychee in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Deep, free draining soil enriched with compost or decomposed manure (Bunnings). Slightly acidic soil (Love The Garden).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun, sheltered from strong winds (Love The Garden). Young trees do better in part shade and shade cloth at first (Bunnings).
- Keep away from
- Frost pockets, Windy exposed spots
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Lychee
Recommended Varieties
- Wai Chee (semi dwarf, self pollinating, Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Frost
- Cool summers
Pro Tips
- Not recommended outdoors
Pests and problems for Lychee in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Lychee
When ready: Harvest when the skin is fully red or pink. Fruit does not ripen after picking (Love The Garden).
How to harvest: Pick whole clusters in the morning (Love The Garden).
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 Lychee
When do you plant lychee in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Sep
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Apr to Sep
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Lychee in Melbourne?
Lychees need frost free sites and dry, brief winters (FAO). Daleys says it prefers temperatures above 5°C. No source shows a crop in a cool temperate garden. A potted tree under cover would grow but is unlikely to fruit.
How do I know when Lychee are ready to harvest?
Harvest when the skin is fully red or pink. Fruit does not ripen after picking (Love The Garden).
What are the best Lychee varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Wai Chee (semi dwarf, self pollinating, Daleys).
Are lychee salt tolerant?
No. Lychee 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.