When to Plant Orange 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 Orange 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
- $2.30/kg
Classic backyard citrus. Sweet oranges need more heat than lemons for sweetness development. Coastal Melbourne oranges are noticeably more tart than those from Mildura or the Riverland.
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
Navels ripen through winter, and Valencias hang from late winter into summer. Plant in spring.
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How to Grow Orange in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic. Same requirements as other citrus.
- 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 6-8 hours. More heat = sweeter fruit.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Chives, Garlic, Marigold, Comfrey
- Keep away from
- Grass right to trunk
Subtropical Growing Tips for Orange
Recommended Varieties
- Washington Navel
- Lane Late Navel (late season)
- Valencia
- Cara Cara (pink navel, excellent)
Key Challenges
- Citrus gall wasp
- Fruit fly
- Blood oranges need colder winters than SEQ usually provides for full colour
Pro Tips
- Good orange zone. Navels ripen June-August, Valencia September-November.
- Lane Late extends harvest to October.
- Cara Cara is outstanding. Pink flesh, low acid, sweet.
Pests and problems for Orange in Subtropical
Harvesting Orange
When ready: Full orange colour (some green at stem end is normal). Taste test. Sweetness develops with time on tree. Navel oranges ripen faster than Valencia.
How to harvest: Cut with secateurs or twist-pull.
Storing and preserving orange
How to keep it
- Juicing and freezing. Juice and freeze in ice cube trays or containers. Keeps: 12 months.
- Marmalade. Seville/bitter oranges are traditional. Slice thin, soak, boil with sugar to setting point. Keeps: 12 months.
- Candied peel. Boil peel strips 3x, simmer in syrup until translucent, dry. Keeps: 3 months.
- Segments in syrup. Peel, segment, pack in light syrup, water bath process. Keeps: 12 months.
What orange 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 Orange
When do you plant orange 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 Orange in Brisbane?
Navels ripen through winter, and Valencias hang from late winter into summer. Plant in spring.
How do I know when Orange are ready to harvest?
Full orange colour (some green at stem end is normal). Taste test. Sweetness develops with time on tree. Navel oranges ripen faster than Valencia.
What are the best Orange varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Washington Navel, Lane Late Navel (late season), Valencia, Cara Cara (pink navel, excellent).
What grows well with Orange?
Good companion plants for Orange include: Nasturtium, Chives, Garlic, Marigold, Comfrey.
Are orange salt tolerant?
No. Orange 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.