When to Plant Pineapple 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 Pineapple 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
- 4.5–5.5
A bromeliad, not a tree or even a bush. Grows as a rosette of spiky leaves at ground level and produces a single fruit on a central stalk.
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
Plant tops or suckers in the warm months in free-draining, acidic soil. Fruit takes 18 months or more and mostly ripens in summer.
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How to Grow Pineapple in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, sandy or sandy loam. Acidic. Pineapples CANNOT tolerate waterlogged soil. Root rot is rapid.
- Salt
- Moderately tolerant. Handles slightly salty water better than most veggies.
- pH Range
- 4.5-5.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun. Maximum heat. North-facing position in marginal zones.
- Good companions
- Coconut
- Keep away from
- Waterlogged areas
Subtropical Growing Tips for Pineapple
Recommended Varieties
- Queen (most common backyard variety)
- Smooth Cayenne
- MD-2
Key Challenges
- Slow growth in winter
- Frost kills plants
- 24+ months to fruit from crown
Pro Tips
- SEQ is good pineapple country. Sunshine Coast (Nambour) was historically Australia's pineapple capital.
- Plant suckers rather than crowns for faster production.
- Protect from frost. Even light frost damages leaves.
Pests and problems for Pineapple in Subtropical
Harvesting Pineapple
When ready: Shell colour changes from green to yellow-gold (starting at base). Sweet aroma develops. Pull a central leaf. If it detaches easily, fruit is ready. Thump test. Sounds dull when ripe, hollow when unripe.
How to harvest: Cut stem below fruit with sharp knife. Can cut with attached slip for propagation.
Storing and preserving pineapple
How to keep it
- Freezing. Peel, core, chunk. Freeze on trays then bag. Keeps: 12 months.
- Dehydrating. Slice into rings or chunks. Dehydrate at 55°C for 12-16 hours. Keeps: 12 months.
- Canning in syrup. Pack chunks in light syrup. Water bath 20 minutes. Keeps: 12 months.
- Pineapple vinegar (tepache). Ferment peel and core with sugar and water for 3-5 days. Strain. Keeps: 2 weeks refrigerated.
What pineapple costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Pineapple
When do you plant pineapple in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Sep to Nov
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Mar, Nov to Dec
When should I plant Pineapple in Brisbane?
Plant tops or suckers in the warm months in free-draining, acidic soil. Fruit takes 18 months or more and mostly ripens in summer.
How do I know when Pineapple are ready to harvest?
Shell colour changes from green to yellow-gold (starting at base). Sweet aroma develops. Pull a central leaf. If it detaches easily, fruit is ready. Thump test. Sounds dull when ripe, hollow when unripe.
What are the best Pineapple varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Queen (most common backyard variety), Smooth Cayenne, MD-2.
What grows well with Pineapple?
Good companion plants for Pineapple include: Coconut.
Are pineapple salt tolerant?
Fairly. Pineapple are moderately tolerant of salt and handle slightly salty water better than most veggies.
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.