When to Plant Raspberry 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 Raspberry 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 to part shade
- Soil pH
- 5.5–6.5
- Shop price
- $41.96/kg
Suckering deciduous cane fruit. Two types: summer-bearing (fruit on previous year's canes, one crop per year) and everbearing/primocane (fruit on current year's canes, extended harvest autumn into spring).
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 canes in winter. Summer-fruiting types crop in early summer, and autumn-fruiting types such as Heritage from February. Avoid beds that grew tomatoes or potatoes in the last three years.
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How to Grow Raspberry in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic, rich in organic matter. Raised beds recommended in heavy soils.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 5.5-6.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun in cool climates. Morning sun with afternoon shade in warm zones.
- Good companions
- Marigold, Tansy
- Keep away from
- Potato (share diseases), Tomato (share diseases)
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Raspberry
Recommended Varieties
- Willamette (summer)
- Heritage (everbearing)
- Autumn Bliss (everbearing)
- Glen Ample (summer)
Key Challenges
- Botrytis in wet seasons
Pro Tips
- Ideal raspberry climate. Melbourne and Tasmania produce excellent berries.
- Full range of varieties.
Pests and problems for Raspberry in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Raspberry
When ready: Full colour (red/gold depending on variety). Berry detaches from receptacle with gentle pull. If you have to tug, it's not ready.
How to harvest: Pick gently between thumb and forefinger. Berry should separate from white receptacle (which stays on plant). Harvest every 2-3 days.
Storing and preserving raspberry
How to keep it
- Freezing. Spread on trays, freeze, bag. Best preservation method. Keeps: 12 months.
- Jam. Simmer with sugar (1:1) and lemon juice. Brief boil to setting point. Jar hot. Raspberry jam is one of the best. Keeps: 12 months.
- Raspberry vinegar. Cover berries with white wine vinegar. Infuse 2 weeks. Strain, add sugar, simmer briefly. Bottle. Keeps: 12 months.
- Coulis/sauce. Puree berries, strain seeds if desired, add sugar. Freeze in portions. Keeps: 6 months frozen.
What raspberry 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 Raspberry
When do you plant raspberry 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): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Raspberry in Melbourne?
Plant bare-root canes in winter. Summer-fruiting types crop in early summer, and autumn-fruiting types such as Heritage from February. Avoid beds that grew tomatoes or potatoes in the last three years.
How do I know when Raspberry are ready to harvest?
Full colour (red/gold depending on variety). Berry detaches from receptacle with gentle pull. If you have to tug, it's not ready.
What are the best Raspberry varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Willamette (summer), Heritage (everbearing), Autumn Bliss (everbearing), Glen Ample (summer).
What grows well with Raspberry?
Good companion plants for Raspberry include: Marigold, Tansy.
Are raspberry salt tolerant?
No. Raspberry 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.