When to Plant Loquat 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 Loquat 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
- 6.0–7.5
The loquat is an evergreen tree with sweet, apricot like fruit in late winter and spring, when little else is ripe. It is self fertile, grows in warm temperate and subtropical gardens, and tolerates light frost.
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
Planting Season gives September to February for southeast Queensland and fruit in late winter to early spring. Daleys gives September to November. It is also an environmental weed here, so pick fruit and do not let seedlings escape.
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How to Grow Loquat in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Free draining soil (Daleys, Planting Season).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun, at least 6 hours a day (Planting Season).
- Keep away from
- Bushland and creek lines, Waterlogged ground
Subtropical Growing Tips for Loquat
Recommended Varieties
- Nagasakiwase (early, large)
- Bessell Brown (prunable to about 2 m)
- Seedling loquats (variable, and spread easily)
Key Challenges
- Birds
- Fruit fly
- Seedlings escaping into bush
Pro Tips
- Net trees
- Bin seed and fallen fruit
Pests and problems for Loquat in Subtropical
Harvesting Loquat
How to harvest: Pick clusters when the fruit is fully coloured, before birds get them.
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 Loquat
When do you plant loquat in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): May to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): May to Sep
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): May to Sep
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): May to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): May to Sep
When should I plant Loquat in Brisbane?
Planting Season gives September to February for southeast Queensland and fruit in late winter to early spring. Daleys gives September to November. It is also an environmental weed here, so pick fruit and do not let seedlings escape.
What are the best Loquat varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Nagasakiwase (early, large), Bessell Brown (prunable to about 2 m), Seedling loquats (variable, and spread easily).
Are loquat salt tolerant?
No. Loquat 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.