When to Plant Cherimoya 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 Cherimoya 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 Feb
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7.6
Cherimoya is the cold hardy custard apple, a briefly deciduous tree of 6 to 8 m, or 2 to 5 m pruned, suited to subtropical and warm temperate gardens (Daleys).
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 -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Daleys lists it for the subtropics, with harvest April to July for Fina de Jete and May to August for Rosa. Best above 7 degrees. Planting months are our estimate: spring to summer, with a deep soak from flowering to early fruit.
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How to Grow Cherimoya in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Free draining sand or sandy loam (Daleys). Root rot in clay (Morton).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.5-7.6
- Sunlight
- Full sun; protect young trees from hot windy sites (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Heavy clay (Morton), Strong wind (Morton), Pond apple rootstock (NSW WeedWise)
Subtropical Growing Tips for Cherimoya
Recommended Varieties
- Fina de Jete, grafted (Daleys)
- Rosa (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Poor fruit set without humidity
- Mealybugs
- Fruit fly
Pro Tips
- Hand pollinate every 4 to 5 days in the morning with pollen collected the afternoon before (Morton)
- Deep soak from flowering to early fruit (Daleys)
Pests and problems for Cherimoya in Subtropical
Harvesting Cherimoya
When ready: Pick while firm when the skin shows a yellow green tinge (Morton).
How to harvest: Clip with a short stem and ripen at room temperature for 3 to 4 days (Morton).
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 Cherimoya
When do you plant cherimoya in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Cherimoya in Brisbane?
Daleys lists it for the subtropics, with harvest April to July for Fina de Jete and May to August for Rosa. Best above 7 degrees. Planting months are our estimate: spring to summer, with a deep soak from flowering to early fruit.
How do I know when Cherimoya are ready to harvest?
Pick while firm when the skin shows a yellow green tinge (Morton).
What are the best Cherimoya varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Fina de Jete, grafted (Daleys), Rosa (Daleys).
Are cherimoya salt tolerant?
No. Cherimoya 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.