When to Plant Acerola in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 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, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This Acerola guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Mar
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Acerola, or Barbados cherry, is an evergreen shrub of 2 to 5 m, or 1.5 m for the dwarf Pixie, for tropical and subtropical gardens, with bright red soft fruit very high in vitamin C that is eaten fresh, juiced or frozen...
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Subtropical
- Jan P
- Feb P
- Mar P
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Daleys lists it for the subtropics with harvest January to April and September to December; a Mansfield QLD review gets five crops of about 3 kg a year and picking starts in late spring (Daleys blog). Frost is only sometimes tolerated. Planting months are our estimate: spring to early autumn.
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How to Grow Acerola in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Most soils including heavy clay (Daleys); pH 5.5 or above, 6.5 better (Morton).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Paths where the stinging hairs brush skin (Daleys), Frost pockets
Subtropical Growing Tips for Acerola
Recommended Varieties
- Florida Sweet (Daleys)
- Pixie dwarf (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Fruit fly
- Possums and birds
- Soft fruit bruises (Daleys)
Pro Tips
- Stake the young plant (Daleys)
- Cut back a third to a half after fruiting (Daleys blog)
Pests and problems for Acerola in Subtropical
Harvesting Acerola
When ready: Fruit turns bright red about 22 days after flowering and softens fast (Morton).
How to harvest: Pick early in the morning every day to every three days, wearing gloves and long sleeves against the stinging hairs (Morton; Daleys). Fruit bruises easily (Daleys).
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 Acerola
When do you plant acerola in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Mar, Nov to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Acerola in Brisbane?
Daleys lists it for the subtropics with harvest January to April and September to December; a Mansfield QLD review gets five crops of about 3 kg a year and picking starts in late spring (Daleys blog). Frost is only sometimes tolerated. Planting months are our estimate: spring to early autumn.
How do I know when Acerola are ready to harvest?
Fruit turns bright red about 22 days after flowering and softens fast (Morton).
What are the best Acerola varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Florida Sweet (Daleys), Pixie dwarf (Daleys).
Are acerola salt tolerant?
No. Acerola 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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.