When to Plant Orange 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 Orange 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
- $2.30/kg
Classic backyard citrus. Sweet oranges need more heat than lemons for sweetness development. Coastal Melbourne oranges are noticeably more tart than those from Mildura or the Riverland.
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
Navel and Valencia oranges grow well in sheltered Melbourne gardens. Navels ripen in winter and Valencias hang on into spring. Fruit is sweetest in the warmest spots.
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How to Grow Orange in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic. Same requirements as other citrus.
- 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, minimum 6-8 hours. More heat = sweeter fruit.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Chives, Garlic, Marigold, Comfrey
- Keep away from
- Grass right to trunk
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Orange
Recommended Varieties
- Washington Navel
- Lane Late
- Blood Orange (best colour in cool climates)
Key Challenges
- Tart fruit in cool years
- Frost risk
- Gall wasp
Pro Tips
- Oranges are marginal to good in Melbourne depending on position.
- Blood oranges develop their best colour here. Cold nights drive anthocyanin production.
- North-facing wall, overhead protection from frost.
Pests and problems for Orange in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Orange
When ready: Full orange colour (some green at stem end is normal). Taste test. Sweetness develops with time on tree. Navel oranges ripen faster than Valencia.
How to harvest: Cut with secateurs or twist-pull.
Storing and preserving orange
How to keep it
- Juicing and freezing. Juice and freeze in ice cube trays or containers. Keeps: 12 months.
- Marmalade. Seville/bitter oranges are traditional. Slice thin, soak, boil with sugar to setting point. Keeps: 12 months.
- Candied peel. Boil peel strips 3x, simmer in syrup until translucent, dry. Keeps: 3 months.
- Segments in syrup. Peel, segment, pack in light syrup, water bath process. Keeps: 12 months.
What orange 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 Orange
When do you plant orange 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 Orange in Melbourne?
Navel and Valencia oranges grow well in sheltered Melbourne gardens. Navels ripen in winter and Valencias hang on into spring. Fruit is sweetest in the warmest spots.
How do I know when Orange are ready to harvest?
Full orange colour (some green at stem end is normal). Taste test. Sweetness develops with time on tree. Navel oranges ripen faster than Valencia.
What are the best Orange varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Washington Navel, Lane Late, Blood Orange (best colour in cool climates).
What grows well with Orange?
Good companion plants for Orange include: Nasturtium, Chives, Garlic, Marigold, Comfrey.
Are orange salt tolerant?
No. Orange 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.