When to Plant Mangosteen 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 Mangosteen 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
- Oct to Feb
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Mangosteen is a slow tropical tree with a thick purple rind and sweet white segments. Daleys says it is suitable only for tropical climates or a warm greenhouse, and likes temperatures above 5 degrees (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 -
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. A Brisbane grower lost a tree at 4 degrees and says it is not worth trying south of Mackay, another covers a tree with a greenhouse each winter near Brisbane, and a Gold Coast grower has a 5 m seedling under palms. Fruit months are the Daleys months, so treat them as a guide only. Planting months are our estimate for a nursery tree: plant in the warm, wet months so the roots settle before any dry or cool weather.
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How to Grow Mangosteen in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep, rich organic soil, sandy loam or laterite, with good drainage and no limestone (Morton). Daleys asks for good drainage.
- 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 on the Daleys listing. A Gold Coast grower has a 5 m seedling under palms, and Morton notes thread blight in shaded humid sites, so light shade for young trees is a grower practice, not a sourced rule.
- Keep away from
- Windy spots, Salt spray and salty water (Morton), Limestone soil (Morton)
Subtropical Growing Tips for Mangosteen
Recommended Varieties
- Seedling mangosteen (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Cold snaps near 4 degrees
- Slow growth
Pro Tips
- Warmest, most sheltered spot
- Cover in winter while young
Pests and problems for Mangosteen in Subtropical
Harvesting Mangosteen
When ready: Full purple colour and slight softening (Morton). Fruit with more stigma lobes at the tip has more segments and fewer seeds (Morton).
How to harvest: Pick by hand with a ladder or cutting pole. Never let fruit fall (Morton).
Storing and preserving mangosteen
How to keep it
- freezing. Open the rind, lift out the segments, tray freeze, then bag. Sugar is optional and is only for flavour and texture (NCHFP). Keeps: Up to 12 months in a sealed container (NCHFP general guidance).
- fresh_storage. Pick at full colour with slight softening. Keep in the fridge crisper or a cool dry cupboard. Keeps: 3 to 4 weeks at 4 to 13 degrees (Morton).
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 Mangosteen
When do you plant mangosteen 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, Oct to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan, Nov to Dec
- 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 Mangosteen in Brisbane?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. A Brisbane grower lost a tree at 4 degrees and says it is not worth trying south of Mackay, another covers a tree with a greenhouse each winter near Brisbane, and a Gold Coast grower has a 5 m seedling under palms. Fruit months are the Daleys months, so treat them as a guide only. Planting months are our estimate for a nursery tree: plant in the warm, wet months so the roots settle before any dry or cool weather.
How do I know when Mangosteen are ready to harvest?
Full purple colour and slight softening (Morton). Fruit with more stigma lobes at the tip has more segments and fewer seeds (Morton).
What are the best Mangosteen varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Seedling mangosteen (Daleys).
Are mangosteen salt tolerant?
No. Mangosteen 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.