When to Plant Mandarin in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Plant November. Right now in September it is out of season. The next planting month is November.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

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.

Mandarin

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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. Trees are generally smaller and more compact than oranges or grapefruit, making them excellent for suburban gardens. Grafted trees fruit in 2-3 years. Most varieties produce heavy crops of sweet, easy-to-peel fruit that kids love.

Best Planting Window for Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - - - P -

P = Planting window

Plant November. Sheltered north-facing position.

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How to Grow Mandarin in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Plant November. Sheltered north-facing position.

Soil
Well-drained, slightly acidic. Reasonable tolerance of various soils.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun. 6+ hours direct.

Companion plants: Nasturtium, Comfrey, Marigold

Avoid planting near: 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.

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.

Where to next

What mandarin costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

The pest most likely to find your mandarin: Possums (Common Brushtail, Ringtail).

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $4.13/kg (12-month range: $2.90–$10.53)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

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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:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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.