When to Plant Acerola in Cairns, Tropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Acerola guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Nov to Mar
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Acerola, or Barbados cherry, is an evergreen shrub of 2 to 5 m, or 1.5 m for the dwarf Pixie, for tropical and subtropical gardens, with bright red soft fruit very high in vitamin C that is eaten fresh, juiced or frozen...
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
- Jan P
- Feb P
- Mar P
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Daleys lists it for the tropics with harvest January to April and September to December; a Mount Isa review says it loves the heat. Planting months are our estimate: the start of the wet season. Water generously.
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How to Grow Acerola in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Most soils including heavy clay (Daleys); pH 5.5 or above, 6.5 better (Morton).
- 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
- Paths where the stinging hairs brush skin (Daleys), Frost pockets
Tropical Growing Tips for Acerola
Recommended Varieties
- Florida Sweet (Daleys)
- Pixie dwarf, 1.5 m (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Fruit fly
- Birds
- Nematodes in sand
Pro Tips
- Net the whole shrub
- Pick daily in the wet
Pests and problems for Acerola in Tropical
Harvesting Acerola
When ready: Fruit turns bright red about 22 days after flowering and softens fast (Morton).
How to harvest: Pick early in the morning every day to every three days, wearing gloves and long sleeves against the stinging hairs (Morton; Daleys). Fruit bruises easily (Daleys).
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 Acerola
When do you plant acerola 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 Mar, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Acerola in Cairns?
Daleys lists it for the tropics with harvest January to April and September to December; a Mount Isa review says it loves the heat. Planting months are our estimate: the start of the wet season. Water generously.
How do I know when Acerola are ready to harvest?
Fruit turns bright red about 22 days after flowering and softens fast (Morton).
What are the best Acerola varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Florida Sweet (Daleys), Pixie dwarf, 1.5 m (Daleys).
Are acerola salt tolerant?
No. Acerola 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.