When to Plant Quince 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 Quince 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
- Days to harvest
- about 261 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Quince is a hardy deciduous tree that suits colder areas and tolerates dry (SGA).
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
Quince suits colder areas (SGA) and an orchard at Bannockburn near Geelong grows 13 varieties (ABC Gardening Australia). Protect from frost at fruit set (SGA). Fruits on current season's growth, so prune like apples and pears (SGA). Harvest March to May. Planting months follow the dataset's deciduous tree convention, winter while dormant, as no opened source gives quince planting months.
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How to Grow Quince in Cool Temperate Australia
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Quince
Recommended Varieties
- Smyrna
- Champion
- Fuller's (ABC)
- Missouri Mammoth (ABC)
Key Challenges
- Frost at fruit set
- Codling moth
Pro Tips
- Prune like apples (SGA)
- Feed once or twice a year (SGA)
Pests and problems for Quince in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Quince
When ready: Fruit turns from green to full yellow and smells strongly; March to May (Daleys).
How to harvest: Twist or cut the fruit off; it bruises, so handle gently.
Storing and preserving quince
How to keep it
- Freezing. Poach, cool, freeze in portions. Keeps: 8 to 12 months.
- Quince jelly. NCHFP quince jelly without pectin, water bath 5 minutes at sea level. Keeps: 1 year.
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 Quince
When do you plant quince in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Aug
- 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 Quince in Melbourne?
Quince suits colder areas (SGA) and an orchard at Bannockburn near Geelong grows 13 varieties (ABC Gardening Australia). Protect from frost at fruit set (SGA). Fruits on current season's growth, so prune like apples and pears (SGA). Harvest March to May. Planting months follow the dataset's deciduous tree convention, winter while dormant, as no opened source gives quince planting months.
How do I know when Quince are ready to harvest?
Fruit turns from green to full yellow and smells strongly; March to May (Daleys).
What are the best Quince varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Smyrna, Champion, Fuller's (ABC), Missouri Mammoth (ABC).
What grows well with Quince?
Good companion plants for Quince include: Nasturtium, Chives, Dill, Garlic, Comfrey.
Are quince salt tolerant?
No. Quince 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.