When to Plant Longan 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 Longan 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
- 6.6–7.3
Longan is a hardy evergreen relative of lychee, growing 10 to 20 m unpruned or 3 to 4 m kept small, and is more cold and wind tolerant than lychee (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
Flowering is October to November in south east Queensland with harvest late February to early April (FAO); Daleys gives February to April for Kohala and March to May for Chompoo. Biew Kiew suits the subtropics. Planting months are our estimate: spring to summer with regular water.
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How to Grow Longan in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Well drained soil with high soil moisture (Daleys). Intolerant of salt (IFAS).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun with wind protection for young trees (Daleys review).
- Keep away from
- Salty soil or bore water (IFAS), Windy exposed sites for young trees (Daleys review)
Subtropical Growing Tips for Longan
Recommended Varieties
- Biew Kiew for the subtropics (Daleys)
- Kohala (Daleys)
- Chompoo, marcot (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Fruit fly
- Birds and bats
- Wind on young trees (Daleys review)
Pro Tips
- Shelter from wind
- Go easy on nitrogen (Daleys review)
- Thin heavy panicles by half (IFAS)
Pests and problems for Longan in Subtropical
Harvesting Longan
When ready: Skin turns yellow brown to tan and the flesh tastes sweet; fruit does not sweeten after picking (Daleys; IFAS).
How to harvest: Cut whole panicles with secateurs and keep the fruit on the stem (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 Longan
When do you plant longan 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): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Longan in Brisbane?
Flowering is October to November in south east Queensland with harvest late February to early April (FAO); Daleys gives February to April for Kohala and March to May for Chompoo. Biew Kiew suits the subtropics. Planting months are our estimate: spring to summer with regular water.
How do I know when Longan are ready to harvest?
Skin turns yellow brown to tan and the flesh tastes sweet; fruit does not sweeten after picking (Daleys; IFAS).
What are the best Longan varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Biew Kiew for the subtropics (Daleys), Kohala (Daleys), Chompoo, marcot (Daleys).
Are longan salt tolerant?
No. Longan 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.