When to Plant Marrow in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.
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 Marrow 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 Feb
- Days to harvest
- about 10 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 90 cm apart
Marrow is a large, bush type squash, the same species as zucchini but bred to crop at a bigger size.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate
- Jan S/T
- Feb T
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct S
- Nov S/T
- Dec S/T
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Marrow included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Marrow in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Improve the soil with organic matter and a complete fertiliser before planting (Mr Fothergill's). Grow on raised mounds of earth or compost (Gardenate).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- Sunlight
- Full sun. Choose a warm, sunny spot, since marrows love warmth, sun and plenty of water (RHS).
- Spacing
- 90cm apart, 90cm between rows
- Watering
- Keep plants well watered (Mr Fothergill's). Mulch to hold moisture (Gardenate).
- Good companions
- Dwarf Beans, Onion, Sweet Corn, Peas
- Keep away from
- Potatoes
- Grow before it
- Leafy greens and brassicas (Lettuce, Silverbeet, Broccoli)
- Grow after it
- Roots and alliums (Carrot, Beetroot, Onion)
Give the bed 3 turns before cucurbits go back in. Pumpkin, cucumber and zucchini want a bed with fresh compost dug through.
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Marrow
Recommended Varieties
- Long Green Bush
Key Challenges
- Frost on young plants
- A short warm season
- Mildew
Pro Tips
- Plant in the warmest, most sheltered spot
- Start under cover
- Cover with cloches early
Pests and problems for Marrow in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Marrow
When ready: Pick fruit while small and tender (Mr Fothergill's). Fruits are dark green with creamy stripes.
How to harvest: Cut regularly to keep yields high (Mr Fothergill's).
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 Marrow
When do you plant marrow in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Feb, Oct to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
Can you grow marrow all year round in Melbourne?
No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Feb, Oct to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Marrow in Melbourne?
No cool temperate calendar was published. We have used the later part of the Gardenate cool and mountain calendar: start in trays from October to January and plant out from November to February, once frost has passed.
What soil temperature do Marrow need?
Marrow germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 35°C.
How do I know when Marrow are ready to harvest?
Pick fruit while small and tender (Mr Fothergill's). Fruits are dark green with creamy stripes.
What are the best Marrow varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Long Green Bush.
What grows well with Marrow?
Good companion plants for Marrow include: Dwarf Beans, Onion, Sweet Corn, Peas.
Are marrow salt tolerant?
Only a little. Marrow are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
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.