When to Plant Jackfruit 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 Jackfruit 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
- 5.5–7.3
Jackfruit is a large evergreen tree of 9 to 12 m unpruned, or 2.4 to 4.3 m kept small (IFAS), for warm humid tropical and subtropical gardens, carrying the largest tree fruit of all, up to 30 kg (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 and says it is hardy to light frost once established, with Black Gold and Cheena the most cold tolerant. Black Gold crops February to May and seedlings June to August. Young trees are damaged at 0 degrees and killed at minus 2 (IFAS). Planting months are our estimate: spring to summer.
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How to Grow Jackfruit in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Free draining neutral soil; tolerates moderately saline soil (Daleys). Dies after 2 to 3 days of waterlogging (IFAS).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 5.5-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Buildings, pipes and septic within 6 to 9 m (IFAS), Low wet ground (IFAS)
Subtropical Growing Tips for Jackfruit
Recommended Varieties
- Black Gold, cold tolerant (Daleys)
- Cheena, cold tolerant (Daleys)
- Honey Gold (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Frost on young trees
- Wet feet
Pro Tips
- Plant 6 to 9 m from buildings and pipes (IFAS)
- Feed every 6 months (Daleys)
- No nitrogen after late summer (IFAS)
Pests and problems for Jackfruit in Subtropical
Harvesting Jackfruit
When ready: Skin turns from green to light green or yellowish brown, the spines flatten and spread, the fruit gives a hollow sound when tapped and a strong aroma starts (IFAS).
How to harvest: Cut the stalk with a saw or secateurs, wrap the cut in paper towel for the latex, and ripen 3 to 10 days at 24 to 27 degrees (IFAS). Oil hands and knife before cutting open (IFAS).
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 Jackfruit
When do you plant jackfruit 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 Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): not recommended
When should I plant Jackfruit in Brisbane?
Daleys lists it for the subtropics and says it is hardy to light frost once established, with Black Gold and Cheena the most cold tolerant. Black Gold crops February to May and seedlings June to August. Young trees are damaged at 0 degrees and killed at minus 2 (IFAS). Planting months are our estimate: spring to summer.
How do I know when Jackfruit are ready to harvest?
Skin turns from green to light green or yellowish brown, the spines flatten and spread, the fruit gives a hollow sound when tapped and a strong aroma starts (IFAS).
What are the best Jackfruit varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Black Gold, cold tolerant (Daleys), Cheena, cold tolerant (Daleys), Honey Gold (Daleys).
Are jackfruit salt tolerant?
No. Jackfruit 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.