When to Plant Pomelo 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 Pomelo 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
- 6.6–7.3
Pomelo, or pummelo, is the largest citrus, a grapefruit ancestor with a thick rind and sweet, drier segments eaten one by one (ABC Gardening Australia).
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
Daleys lists subtropical as a home climate; Mansons south of Brisbane have grown 500 trees for 30 years (ABC Gardening Australia) and buyers at Poona QLD and Kyogle NSW report good crops. Plant in spring from September (Daleys citrus schedule). Harvest July to October. Net against fruit fly; a Wights Mountain QLD buyer lost fruit to it.
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How to Grow Pomelo in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep rich soil with good drainage; mound on clay (ABC, Daleys).
- 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 (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Frost pockets, Heavy wet clay without a mound
Subtropical Growing Tips for Pomelo
Recommended Varieties
- Nam Roi (Daleys, Nurseries Online)
- K-15 (Nurseries Online)
Key Challenges
- Fruit fly
- Gall wasp
- Not enough heat to sweeten in the south
Pro Tips
- Warmest sheltered spot
- Remove fruit the first two years
- Net or bait for fruit fly
Pests and problems for Pomelo in Subtropical
Harvesting Pomelo
When ready: Ripe when the colour changes and the base goes smooth; twists off easily (ABC).
How to harvest: Twist or clip; eat segment by segment, not juiced (ABC).
Storing and preserving pomelo
How to keep it
- Fresh storage. Whole fruit, cool room. Keeps: 2 to 4 weeks.
- Marmalade. Thick peel, tested method, water bath. Keeps: 12 months.
- Canned sections. As grapefruit sections, 10 minutes (NCHFP). Keeps: 12 months.
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 Pomelo
When do you plant pomelo in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Pomelo in Brisbane?
Daleys lists subtropical as a home climate; Mansons south of Brisbane have grown 500 trees for 30 years (ABC Gardening Australia) and buyers at Poona QLD and Kyogle NSW report good crops. Plant in spring from September (Daleys citrus schedule). Harvest July to October. Net against fruit fly; a Wights Mountain QLD buyer lost fruit to it.
How do I know when Pomelo are ready to harvest?
Ripe when the colour changes and the base goes smooth; twists off easily (ABC).
What are the best Pomelo varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Nam Roi (Daleys, Nurseries Online), K-15 (Nurseries Online).
Are pomelo salt tolerant?
No. Pomelo 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.