When to Plant Lemon in Perth, Mediterranean Guide
What this month normally looks like in Mediterranean
In October the Mediterranean zone normally runs 22°C by day and 10°C overnight, with about 38 mm of rain over 6 or 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 19 postcodes, SILO.
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This Lemon 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.
- Planting window
- Apr to May, Sep to Nov
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Shop price
- $13.00/kg at one shop
The most widely grown backyard fruit tree in Australia. Tough, productive, and fruits nearly year-round in warm climates.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Mediterranean
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr P
- May P
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant in autumn or spring. Eureka lemons crop almost all year in Perth, with the heaviest pick from winter into spring.
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How to Grow Lemon in Mediterranean Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral. Tolerates most soils except heavy waterlogged clay. Add gypsum to clay soils.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun, minimum 6 hours. More sun = more fruit.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Chives, Marigold, Comfrey, Lemongrass
- Keep away from
- Grass right to trunk
Mediterranean Growing Tips for Lemon
Recommended Varieties
- Eureka
- Lisbon
- Meyer
- Yen Ben
Key Challenges
- Dry summers need irrigation
- Mediterranean fruit fly in WA
Pro Tips
- Ideal lemon climate. Perth and Adelaide both produce excellent lemons.
- Dry conditions reduce fungal diseases significantly.
- Med fruit fly management in WA required.
Pests and problems for Lemon in Mediterranean
Harvesting Lemon
When ready: Skin turns fully yellow. Fruit feels heavy and gives slightly when squeezed. Lemons can hang on tree for months, getting larger (eventually lose acidity if left too long).
How to harvest: Cut with secateurs or twist-pull. Don't tear bark.
Storing and preserving lemon
How to keep it
- Juice freezing. Juice lemons, freeze in ice cube trays, bag frozen cubes. One cube ≈ one lemon. Keeps: 12 months.
- Zest drying. Finely zest lemons (avoid pith). Spread on tray, air dry 24-48 hours. Store in airtight jar. Keeps: 6 months.
- Preserved lemons (salt). Quarter lemons leaving base attached. Pack with coarse salt in sterilised jar. Press down to release juice. Top with extra lemon juice. Seal and leave 4-6 weeks before using. Keeps: 12+ months.
- Lemon curd. Combine juice, zest, butter, sugar, and eggs over double boiler. Stir until thick. Jar hot. Keeps: 4 weeks refrigerated, 6 months frozen.
- Lemon marmalade. Slice lemons thin, soak overnight, boil with sugar to setting point. Jar hot. Keeps: 12 months.
- Limoncello. Infuse lemon zest in vodka for 7-10 days. Strain, add sugar syrup. Bottle. Keeps: Indefinite (high alcohol).
What lemon 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 Lemon
When do you plant lemon in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Oct to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Oct to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Apr to May, Sep to Nov
When should I plant Lemon in Perth?
Plant in autumn or spring. Eureka lemons crop almost all year in Perth, with the heaviest pick from winter into spring.
How do I know when Lemon are ready to harvest?
Skin turns fully yellow. Fruit feels heavy and gives slightly when squeezed. Lemons can hang on tree for months, getting larger (eventually lose acidity if left too long).
What are the best Lemon varieties for Perth?
Recommended varieties for the Mediterranean zone include: Eureka, Lisbon, Meyer, Yen Ben.
What grows well with Lemon?
Good companion plants for Lemon include: Nasturtium, Chives, Marigold, Comfrey, Lemongrass.
Are lemon salt tolerant?
No. Lemon 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 Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.