When to Plant Cashew 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 Cashew 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
- Dec to Feb
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 4.5–6.5
A fast evergreen tree to 10 to 15 m for the dry tropical coast and inland north, grown commercially in the Northern Territory and north Queensland (Daleys, QDAF).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Subtropical
- Jan D
- Feb D
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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How to Grow Cashew in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep well drained sandy loam, pH 4.5 to 6.5; alkaline soils cause deficiencies and poor drainage kills it (Daleys, UF IFAS).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 4.5-6.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun.
- Good companions
- Sweet Corn, Peanut, Yam
- Keep away from
- Frost pockets, Windy sites, Wet or heavy ground, Paths and washing lines, the apple juice stains
Subtropical Growing Tips for Cashew
Recommended Varieties
- Seedling (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Winter cold
- Slow growth
Pro Tips
- Pot culture under cover
- Warmest wall in the garden
Pests and problems for Cashew in Subtropical
Harvesting Cashew
When ready: The apple colours yellow to red and the whole fruit with its nut falls to the ground (UF IFAS).
How to harvest: Pick up fallen fruit wearing gloves, twist the nut off the apple and keep the raw nuts away from skin and children (Daleys, UF IFAS). Use the apple the same day.
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 Cashew
When do you plant cashew in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Feb, Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): not recommended
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): not recommended
Can you grow cashew all year round in Brisbane?
No. In the Subtropical zone the planting months are Jan to Feb, Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Cashew in Brisbane?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Daleys customers report an in ground tree at Carindale in Brisbane died after a mild winter, while a potted tree in a shadehouse survived. Frost free, warm, wind sheltered sites only, or a large pot moved under cover in winter. No harvest months are listed because no source reports a crop outside the tropics. Planting months are our estimate from UF IFAS summer sowing.
How do I know when Cashew are ready to harvest?
The apple colours yellow to red and the whole fruit with its nut falls to the ground (UF IFAS).
What are the best Cashew varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Seedling (Daleys).
What grows well with Cashew?
Good companion plants for Cashew include: Sweet Corn, Peanut, Yam.
Are cashew salt tolerant?
No. Cashew 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.