When to Plant Lemon 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.
Jump to section
This Lemon 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 Nov
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Shop price
- $13.00/kg at one shop
The most widely grown backyard fruit tree in Australia. Tough, productive, and fruits nearly year-round in warm climates.
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 -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
The main crop ripens in winter, and Eureka carries some fruit most of the year. Plant in spring once the soil warms.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Subtropical zone right now, Lemon included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Lemon in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral. Tolerates most soils except heavy waterlogged clay. Add gypsum to clay soils.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun, minimum 6 hours. More sun = more fruit.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Chives, Marigold, Comfrey, Lemongrass
- Keep away from
- Grass right to trunk
Subtropical Growing Tips for Lemon
Recommended Varieties
- Eureka (year-round cropping)
- Lisbon (winter crop, thorny but vigorous)
- Meyer (sweeter, less acidic)
- Yen Ben
Key Challenges
- Citrus gall wasp
- Leafminer on young trees
Pro Tips
- Prime lemon zone. Eureka produces virtually year-round in SEQ.
- Gall wasp inspection and pruning is annual winter task.
- A single tree produces far more lemons than one family needs, share with neighbours.
Pests and problems for Lemon in Subtropical
Harvesting Lemon
When ready: Skin turns fully yellow. Fruit feels heavy and gives slightly when squeezed. Lemons can hang on tree for months, getting larger (eventually lose acidity if left too long).
How to harvest: Cut with secateurs or twist-pull. Don't tear bark.
Storing and preserving lemon
How to keep it
- Juice freezing. Juice lemons, freeze in ice cube trays, bag frozen cubes. One cube ≈ one lemon. Keeps: 12 months.
- Zest drying. Finely zest lemons (avoid pith). Spread on tray, air dry 24-48 hours. Store in airtight jar. Keeps: 6 months.
- Preserved lemons (salt). Quarter lemons leaving base attached. Pack with coarse salt in sterilised jar. Press down to release juice. Top with extra lemon juice. Seal and leave 4-6 weeks before using. Keeps: 12+ months.
- Lemon curd. Combine juice, zest, butter, sugar, and eggs over double boiler. Stir until thick. Jar hot. Keeps: 4 weeks refrigerated, 6 months frozen.
- Lemon marmalade. Slice lemons thin, soak overnight, boil with sugar to setting point. Jar hot. Keeps: 12 months.
- Limoncello. Infuse lemon zest in vodka for 7-10 days. Strain, add sugar syrup. Bottle. Keeps: Indefinite (high alcohol).
What lemon costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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 Lemon
When do you plant lemon in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Oct to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Oct to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Apr to May, Sep to Nov
When should I plant Lemon in Brisbane?
The main crop ripens in winter, and Eureka carries some fruit most of the year. Plant in spring once the soil warms.
How do I know when Lemon are ready to harvest?
Skin turns fully yellow. Fruit feels heavy and gives slightly when squeezed. Lemons can hang on tree for months, getting larger (eventually lose acidity if left too long).
What are the best Lemon varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Eureka (year-round cropping), Lisbon (winter crop, thorny but vigorous), Meyer (sweeter, less acidic), Yen Ben.
What grows well with Lemon?
Good companion plants for Lemon include: Nasturtium, Chives, Marigold, Comfrey, Lemongrass.
Are lemon salt tolerant?
No. Lemon 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.