When to Plant Mandarin 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 Mandarin 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
- $4.13/kg
Easy-peel citrus that's extremely popular in Australian home gardens. Huge variety range from early to late season, covering harvest from April to November. Imperial is the classic Australian variety.
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
Mandarins such as Imperial and Satsuma crop well in sheltered, sunny Melbourne gardens. Plant in spring and protect young trees from frost.
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How to Grow Mandarin in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic. Reasonable tolerance of various 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. 6+ hours direct.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Basil, Garlic, Marigold, Comfrey
- Keep away from
- Grass to trunk
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Mandarin
Recommended Varieties
- Satsuma (best cold tolerance of any mandarin)
- Imperial (in sheltered spots)
Key Challenges
- Frost during flowering
- Gall wasp
- Slower growth
Pro Tips
- Satsuma mandarins do well in Melbourne. Seedless, easy peel, good cold tolerance.
- North-facing wall position recommended.
- Cool winters actually produce sweeter fruit than tropical-grown mandarins.
Pests and problems for Mandarin in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Mandarin
When ready: Full colour development (orange). Easy peel test, skin separates easily. Taste test is definitive. Sweeter the longer left on tree (within reason).
How to harvest: Cut with secateurs leaving short stub, or twist-pull gently.
Storing and preserving mandarin
How to keep it
- Juice freezing. Juice and freeze in ice cube trays. Keeps: 12 months.
- Dehydrated slices. Slice 3-4mm, dehydrate at 55°C for 10-12 hours. Keeps: 12 months.
- Segments in syrup. Peel, segment, remove pith. Pack in light sugar syrup in sterilised jars. Water bath 15 minutes. Keeps: 12 months.
- Marmalade. Slice whole fruit, soak overnight, cook with sugar to setting point. Keeps: 12 months.
What mandarin 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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- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Mandarin
When do you plant mandarin 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 Mandarin in Melbourne?
Mandarins such as Imperial and Satsuma crop well in sheltered, sunny Melbourne gardens. Plant in spring and protect young trees from frost.
How do I know when Mandarin are ready to harvest?
Full colour development (orange). Easy peel test, skin separates easily. Taste test is definitive. Sweeter the longer left on tree (within reason).
What are the best Mandarin varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Satsuma (best cold tolerance of any mandarin), Imperial (in sheltered spots).
What grows well with Mandarin?
Good companion plants for Mandarin include: Nasturtium, Basil, Garlic, Marigold, Comfrey.
Are mandarin salt tolerant?
No. Mandarin 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.