When to Plant Pomegranate 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 Pomegranate 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
- 5.5–8.0
Tough, drought-tolerant, heat-loving deciduous tree/large shrub from the Middle East. Produces fruit with jewel-like arils (seed sacs) packed with sweet-tart juice. Thrives in hot, dry climates with cold winters.
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
Hardy to cold but needs the hottest, sunniest spot to ripen fruit. Wonderful is a good choice for Melbourne; fruit is less reliable in Tasmania and cooler inland districts.
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How to Grow Pomegranate in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Extremely tolerant. Grows in sand, clay, limestone, even slightly saline soil. Prefers well-drained but adapts to most conditions. One of the least fussy fruit trees regarding soil.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 5.5-8.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun, maximum heat. The hotter the better for fruit sweetness.
- Good companions
- Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, lavender, thyme)
- Keep away from
- Nothing specific, very adaptable
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Pomegranate
Recommended Varieties
- Wonderful
- Elche
Key Challenges
- May not ripen fruit fully in cool autumns
- Short season
Pro Tips
- Marginal to good in Melbourne. North-facing wall essential.
- Fruit ripens late (April-May). Needs warm autumn to finish.
Pests and problems for Pomegranate in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Pomegranate
When ready: Skin colour deepens (variety-specific red/pink). Metallic 'tink' sound when tapped (vs dull when unripe). Skin starts to look slightly angular (arils pressing against inside). Calyx flattens.
How to harvest: Cut with secateurs. Don't pull. Stem can tear skin.
Storing and preserving pomegranate
How to keep it
- Arils freezing. Separate arils, spread on tray, freeze, bag. Keeps: 12 months.
- Juicing. Roll fruit to loosen arils, cut in half, juice with citrus juicer or press arils through sieve. Freeze juice. Keeps: 12 months frozen.
- Pomegranate molasses. Simmer juice with sugar and lemon until reduced to thick syrup. Essential Middle Eastern condiment. Keeps: 12 months.
- Grenadine syrup. Simmer juice with sugar (1:1), reduce slightly. Strain and bottle. Keeps: 6 months refrigerated.
What pomegranate costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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Common Questions About Pomegranate
When do you plant pomegranate in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): May to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jul to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Pomegranate in Melbourne?
Hardy to cold but needs the hottest, sunniest spot to ripen fruit. Wonderful is a good choice for Melbourne; fruit is less reliable in Tasmania and cooler inland districts.
How do I know when Pomegranate are ready to harvest?
Skin colour deepens (variety-specific red/pink). Metallic 'tink' sound when tapped (vs dull when unripe). Skin starts to look slightly angular (arils pressing against inside). Calyx flattens.
What are the best Pomegranate varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Wonderful, Elche.
What grows well with Pomegranate?
Good companion plants for Pomegranate include: Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, lavender, thyme).
Are pomegranate salt tolerant?
Only a little. Pomegranate 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.