When to Plant Apple in Perth, Mediterranean Guide

Plant June to August. Right now in September it is out of season. The next planting month is June.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Apple guide is written for the Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Apple

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Australia's most popular deciduous fruit tree, but success depends entirely on chill hours. Most varieties need 400-1000+ hours below 7°C. Planting a high-chill variety in Brisbane or Cairns is throwing money away. Grafted trees on dwarfing rootstocks (M26, M9, MM106) are essential for home gardens. Seedling trees take 8-10 years to fruit and rarely produce true to type.

Best Planting Window for Mediterranean

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - P P P - - - -

P = Planting window

Plant bare root June-August. Adelaide Hills and Perth Hills are excellent. Perth coastal is marginal for chill.

Want a nudge when it is Apple sowing time in Perth?

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How to Grow Apple in Mediterranean Australia

When to Plant

Plant bare root June-August. Adelaide Hills and Perth Hills are excellent. Perth coastal is marginal for chill.

Soil
Deep, well-drained loam. Heavy clay must be amended with gypsum and compost or use raised mounds.
pH Range
6.0-6.5
Sunlight
Full sun, minimum 6 hours direct. Morning sun preferred to dry dew and reduce fungal pressure.

Companion plants: Nasturtium, Comfrey, Chives, Borage

Avoid planting near: Walnut (juglone toxicity), Grass right to trunk (competition)

Mediterranean Growing Tips for Apple

Recommended Varieties

  • Pink Lady
  • Gala
  • Granny Smith
  • Fuji
  • Sundowner

Key Challenges

  • Dry summers need irrigation
  • Mediterranean fruit fly in WA
  • Variable chill at lower elevations

Pro Tips

  • Adelaide Hills is premium apple country (Lenswood, Lobethal).
  • Perth Hills viable, Perth coastal marginal.
  • In WA, Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) replaces QLD fruit fly. Same netting approach applies.

Harvesting Apple

When ready: Background colour changes from green to yellow (for red varieties, check the shaded side). Seeds turn dark brown. Fruit detaches with a gentle upward twist. Flesh is crisp and juicy, not starchy.

How to harvest: Cup fruit in hand and twist upward with a slight roll. Never pull downward, breaks fruiting spurs. Handle gently. Bruised apples rot in storage.

Where to next

What apple costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the mediterranean zone this September: Ginger, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Cucumber.

The pest most likely to find your apple: Possums (Common Brushtail, Ringtail).

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $5.28/kg (12-month range: $3.50–$8.90)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

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Common Questions About Apple

When do you plant apple in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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 Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.