When to Plant Pandan 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 Pandan 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
- Nov to Dec
- Days to harvest
- about 52 weeks
- Sun
- Part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 100 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Pandan is a tropical clumping plant 1 to 2 metres tall with long strap leaves that give South East Asian rice, sweets and drinks their vanilla like scent (Daleys).
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 -
- Oct -
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Grow it only in a pot that winters indoors. Daleys reviewers in Melbourne lost plants in garages and a Cranbourne grower keeps one indoors; BAAG says it suffers below 10C. Plant a pup in November or December in a 35 litre pot and keep it in a warm bright room from April to October. Months are our estimate.
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How to Grow Pandan in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Free draining potting mix or loam with compost; it must drain (Daleys).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Part sun, 50 to 80 per cent (Daleys); warm part sun (BAAG).
- Spacing
- 100cm apart, 100cm between rows
- Watering
- Moderate water in the warm months, dry in winter (Daleys, BAAG).
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Pandan
Recommended Varieties
- Pandanus amaryllifolius (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Must winter indoors
Pro Tips
- Keep it dry in winter (BAAG, Daleys).
- Cut a few leaves at a time from the base (Daleys forum).
- Use a 35 litre pot or larger (Daleys).
Pests and problems for Pandan in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Pandan
When ready: Leaves 30 cm or longer on an established clump; harvest in the first year (Daleys).
How to harvest: Cut a few outer leaves at a time at the base, leaving the centre to grow (Daleys forum).
Storing and preserving pandan
How to keep it
- Freezing. Tie leaves in knots, bag and freeze; or blend to a paste and freeze in ice cube trays. Keeps: 6 months.
- Fresh in the fridge. Wrap in a damp cloth in a bag. Keeps: About a week.
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 Pandan
When do you plant pandan in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Sep to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Nov
When should I plant Pandan in Melbourne?
Grow it only in a pot that winters indoors. Daleys reviewers in Melbourne lost plants in garages and a Cranbourne grower keeps one indoors; BAAG says it suffers below 10C. Plant a pup in November or December in a 35 litre pot and keep it in a warm bright room from April to October. Months are our estimate.
How do I know when Pandan are ready to harvest?
Leaves 30 cm or longer on an established clump; harvest in the first year (Daleys).
What are the best Pandan varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Pandanus amaryllifolius (Daleys).
Are pandan salt tolerant?
Only a little. Pandan 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.