When to Plant Mango in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide

Plant September to November. Right now in September you can plant.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Mango 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.

Mango

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The king of tropical fruits. Large evergreen tree that is strictly tropical to subtropical in Australia. Needs dry winters for flowering and fruit set. Wet conditions during flowering cause anthracnose and poor pollination. Grafted trees fruit in 3-5 years; seedlings take 6-10+ years and may not produce quality fruit. Polyembryonic varieties (Kensington Pride, R2E2, Nam Doc Mai) produce true-to-type seedlings, but grafted trees on vigorous rootstock are still preferred for earlier and more reliable production.

Best Planting Window for Subtropical

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - P P P -

P = Planting window

Plant September-November.

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How to Grow Mango in Subtropical Australia

When to Plant

Plant September-November.

Soil
Deep, well-drained soil. Tolerates poor soils but performs best in fertile loam. Cannot tolerate waterlogging.
pH Range
5.5-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun, maximum heat. Warm north-facing position essential in southern limit of range.

Companion plants: Tropical ground covers, Sweet potato

Avoid planting near: Buildings (large root system), Other mangoes too close (fungal spread)

Subtropical Growing Tips for Mango

Recommended Varieties

  • Kensington Pride
  • R2E2
  • Calypso
  • Honey Gold
  • Nam Doc Mai

Key Challenges

  • Cold during flowering (July-September) reduces fruit set
  • Anthracnose in wet springs
  • Fruit fly
  • Trees need warmest microclimate

Pro Tips

  • SEQ is the southern limit for reliable mango production.
  • North-facing position with heat reflection from a wall or paved area.
  • Flowering occurs in winter-spring when frosts or cold rain can wipe out crop.

Harvesting Mango

When ready: Skin colour changes (variety-specific: KP turns yellow-orange with red blush, R2E2 turns red-yellow). Stem end becomes slightly rounded. Aroma develops. Fruit gives slightly when gently squeezed. Can harvest at 'hard ripe' (full colour but firm) and ripen at room temperature.

How to harvest: Cut stem with secateurs leaving 2-3cm stub (sap squirts and burns skin). Place stem-down on newspaper for 24 hours to drain sap. WEAR GLOVES - mango sap causes dermatitis.

Where to next

What mango costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the subtropical zone this September: Lemongrass, Ginger, Beetroot and Chilli Peppers.

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Common Questions About Mango

When do you plant mango in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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.