When to Plant Cherry 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 Cherry 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
- Jun to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- neutral (SGA)
Cherry is a deciduous tree that wants cold winters and a cooler, less humid climate. Most sweet cherries need 700 to 1400 chill hours, but a few low chill types fruit from November in warm areas.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Subtropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Only low chill types. Minnie Royal can fruit from November on as little as 200 hours. Pretty Gully is listed for marginal subtropical areas. Royal Crimson is a useful pollinator for other low chill cherries.
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How to Grow Cherry in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep, well draining soil rich in organic matter, neutral pH (SGA).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- neutral (SGA)
- Sunlight
- Full sun (SGA).
- Good companions
- Chives, Dill, Borage, Thyme, Calendula
- Keep away from
- Fennel, Mint, Sunflower, Sweet Corn
Subtropical Growing Tips for Cherry
Recommended Varieties
- Minnie Royal, Royal Lee, Royal Crimson, Pretty Gully (low chill, Daleys)
- Lapins, Stella, Sunburst, Starkrimson (self fertile)
- Black Boy, Trixzie White Cherree (cool climates)
Key Challenges
- Too little chill
- Birds
Pro Tips
- Low chill types only
- Net the tree
Pests and problems for Cherry in Subtropical
Harvesting Cherry
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 Cherry
When do you plant cherry in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Cherry in Brisbane?
Only low chill types. Minnie Royal can fruit from November on as little as 200 hours. Pretty Gully is listed for marginal subtropical areas. Royal Crimson is a useful pollinator for other low chill cherries.
What are the best Cherry varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Minnie Royal, Royal Lee, Royal Crimson, Pretty Gully (low chill, Daleys), Lapins, Stella, Sunburst, Starkrimson (self fertile), Black Boy, Trixzie White Cherree (cool climates).
What grows well with Cherry?
Good companion plants for Cherry include: Chives, Dill, Borage, Thyme, Calendula.
Are cherry salt tolerant?
No. Cherry 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.