When to Plant Peach 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 Peach 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
- Jun to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–6.5
Delicious but high-maintenance deciduous fruit tree requiring specific chill hours, annual pruning, and pest/disease management. Trees are relatively short-lived (15-25 years) compared to apples or pears.
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 P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant bare-root trees in winter. Choose leaf curl resistant varieties and spray at bud swell in wet springs.
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How to Grow Peach in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Deep, well-drained, slightly acidic. Peaches are more sensitive to waterlogging than apples. Sandy loam ideal.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-6.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun, minimum 6-8 hours. Good air circulation essential for disease management.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Onion, Basil, Chives, Garlic
- Keep away from
- Broccoli, Cabbage, Potato, Tomato
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Peach
Recommended Varieties
- Golden Queen
- O'Henry
- Elberta
- Red Haven
Key Challenges
- Leaf curl (wet springs)
- Brown rot
- Late frost on blossoms
Pro Tips
- Good peach zone with adequate chill. Melbourne outer east and Goulburn Valley are proven areas.
- Copper spray program is critical in Melbourne's wet springs.
- Full range of varieties available.
Pests and problems for Peach in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Peach
When ready: Background colour changes from green to yellow/cream. Fruit gives slightly when gently pressed near stem. Aroma develops. Freestone types: flesh separates cleanly from pit.
How to harvest: Cup fruit in hand and twist gently. Ripe fruit detaches easily. Handle gently, peaches bruise instantly.
Storing and preserving peach
How to keep it
- Freezing. Halve, stone, peel (blanch for easy peeling). Toss in lemon juice. Freeze on trays then bag. Keeps: 12 months.
- Dehydrating. Slice 5-8mm. Dip in lemon water. Dehydrate at 55°C for 12-16 hours. Keeps: 12 months.
- Bottling (preserving). Halve, stone, pack in jars with light syrup. Water bath 30 minutes. The classic Australian preservation method. Keeps: 12 months.
- Jam. Chop peaches, cook with sugar (3:4 sugar to fruit) and lemon juice to setting point. Keeps: 12 months.
- Chutney. Dice peaches, cook with onion, vinegar, sugar, ginger, spices. Simmer until thick. Keeps: 12 months.
What peach 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 Peach
When do you plant peach in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jun to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Jul
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Peach in Melbourne?
Plant bare-root trees in winter. Choose leaf curl resistant varieties and spray at bud swell in wet springs.
How do I know when Peach are ready to harvest?
Background colour changes from green to yellow/cream. Fruit gives slightly when gently pressed near stem. Aroma develops. Freestone types: flesh separates cleanly from pit.
What are the best Peach varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Golden Queen, O'Henry, Elberta, Red Haven.
What grows well with Peach?
Good companion plants for Peach include: Nasturtium, Onion, Basil, Chives, Garlic.
Are peach salt tolerant?
No. Peach 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.