When to Plant Grape 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 Grape 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
- Apr to Sep
- Days to harvest
- about 156 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Shop price
- $23.75/kg at one shop
Grapes are a deciduous vine that grows in most climates (Yates), happiest with a cool winter, a wet spring and a long dry summer (SGA, Diggers).
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 P
- May P
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep P
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Bunnings says grapes suit some subtropical areas but dislike humidity, so choose the coastal and subtropical types Daleys lists: Chambourcin, Pink Iona, Isabella Black and Maroo Seedless (downy mildew tolerant), or the muscadines. Flame Seedless does poorly in humid coastal areas. Plant bare root vines in winter, or potted vines in autumn, winter or spring (Bunnings). Fruit from February onwards (SGA); Bunnings says late spring and summer.
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How to Grow Grape in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Free draining, neutral to slightly acidic (Bunnings); not fussy (Diggers).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun, sheltered from wind and severe frost (Bunnings).
- Good companions
- Chives, Garlic, Hyssop, Kiwiberry
- Keep away from
- Cabbage, Radish
Subtropical Growing Tips for Grape
Recommended Varieties
- Chambourcin
- Pink Iona
- Isabella Black
- Maroo Seedless
Key Challenges
- Downy and powdery mildew
- Birds
Pro Tips
- Downy mildew tolerant types
- Net early
Pests and problems for Grape in Subtropical
Harvesting Grape
When ready: Full colour, sweet taste and a dusty bloom; grapes do not ripen further after picking.
How to harvest: Cut whole bunches with secateurs, mid to late summer through late autumn (Yates).
Storing and preserving grape
How to keep it
- Freezing. Whole seedless grapes on a tray or in 40 percent syrup (NCHFP). Keeps: 8 to 12 months.
- Grape jam. NCHFP grape jam without pectin, water bath 5 minutes at sea level. Keeps: 1 year.
- Fruit leather. Puree, spread, dry at 60C for 6 to 8 hours (NCHFP). Keeps: 1 month room temperature, 1 year frozen.
What grape costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Grape
When do you plant grape in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Sep
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Apr to Sep
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Apr to Sep
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Apr to Sep
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Sep
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Apr to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): Apr to Sep
When should I plant Grape in Brisbane?
Bunnings says grapes suit some subtropical areas but dislike humidity, so choose the coastal and subtropical types Daleys lists: Chambourcin, Pink Iona, Isabella Black and Maroo Seedless (downy mildew tolerant), or the muscadines. Flame Seedless does poorly in humid coastal areas. Plant bare root vines in winter, or potted vines in autumn, winter or spring (Bunnings). Fruit from February onwards (SGA); Bunnings says late spring and summer.
How do I know when Grape are ready to harvest?
Full colour, sweet taste and a dusty bloom; grapes do not ripen further after picking.
What are the best Grape varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Chambourcin, Pink Iona, Isabella Black, Maroo Seedless.
What grows well with Grape?
Good companion plants for Grape include: Chives, Garlic, Hyssop, Kiwiberry.
Are grape salt tolerant?
Only a little. Grape are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
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.