When to Plant Pineapple in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide

Plant September to February. 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 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.

Pineapple

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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. Propagated from the crown (leafy top of fruit), suckers, or slips from the mother plant. Takes 18-24 months from planting a crown to first fruit. Each plant produces ONE fruit then generates suckers for subsequent crops. Strictly tropical/warm subtropical. Frost kills them.

Best Planting Window for Subtropical

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

P = Planting window

Plant September-February. Need warm months for establishment.

Want a nudge when it is Pineapple sowing time in Brisbane?

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How to Grow Pineapple in Subtropical Australia

When to Plant

Plant September-February. Need warm months for establishment.

Soil
Well-drained, sandy or sandy loam. Acidic. Pineapples CANNOT tolerate waterlogged soil. Root rot is rapid.
pH Range
4.5-5.5 (acidic)
Sunlight
Full sun. Maximum heat. North-facing position in marginal zones.

Companion plants: Other bromeliads, Tropical ground covers

Avoid planting near: 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.

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.

Where to next

What pineapple 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 Pineapple

When do you plant pineapple 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.