When to Plant Apricot 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 Apricot 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.
- Sun
- Full sun
Apricot is a deciduous stone fruit that flowers early and ripens from October to February. It needs winter chill, and low chill varieties such as Glengarry and Sal extend it into the subtropics.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
Apricot is not recommended for Tropical.
Apricots need winter chill. The low chill types Daleys sells are suited to subtropical and warm temperate areas, not the humid tropics. We found no source for tropical growing.
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How to Grow Apricot in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep, well drained and moisture retentive, slightly alkaline soil (GrowVeg).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- Sunlight
- Full sun, to limit disease and produce good fruit (GrowVeg).
- Good companions
- Basil, Chives, Leek, Tansy
- Keep away from
- Capsicum
Tropical Growing Tips for Apricot
Recommended Varieties
- Glengarry, Sal, low chill seedling (warm areas, Daleys)
- Bulida, Bentley, Fireball (about 450 to 500 hours)
- Hunter, Tilton (cooler, later)
Key Challenges
- No winter chill
Pro Tips
- Not recommended
Pests and problems for Apricot in Tropical
Harvesting Apricot
When ready: Fruit is soft and pulls easily from the tree (GrowVeg).
How to harvest: Pull gently. Ripe fruit also falls.
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 Apricot
When do you plant apricot in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Apricot in Cairns?
Apricots need winter chill. The low chill types Daleys sells are suited to subtropical and warm temperate areas, not the humid tropics. We found no source for tropical growing.
How do I know when Apricot are ready to harvest?
Fruit is soft and pulls easily from the tree (GrowVeg).
What are the best Apricot varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Glengarry, Sal, low chill seedling (warm areas, Daleys), Bulida, Bentley, Fireball (about 450 to 500 hours), Hunter, Tilton (cooler, later).
What grows well with Apricot?
Good companion plants for Apricot include: Basil, Chives, Leek, Tansy.
Are apricot salt tolerant?
No. Apricot 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.