When to Plant Bergamot in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
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 Bergamot 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
- Apr to Oct
- Days to harvest
- about 52 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Bergamot (Monarda didyma) is a clumping perennial herb growing to about 90-100cm, with shaggy red flowers that attract bees.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr S
- May S/T
- Jun S/T
- Jul S/T
- Aug S/T
- Sep S/T
- Oct T
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Bergamot included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Bergamot in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Moist, rich, well-draining soil enriched with organic matter
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade, requires at least 3 to 6 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 30-45cm apart, 60cm between rows
- Watering
- Water deeply when the soil is dry about 5 cm down, in the early morning or late afternoon. Water at the base and keep the leaves dry to reduce fungal disease.
- Good companions
- Tomato, Basil, Cabbage, Borage, Parsley
Tropical Growing Tips for Bergamot
Recommended Varieties
- Panorama Mix (Monarda didyma, mixed colours): About 90 cm tall, spaced about 40 cm apart, full or part sun, frost-hardy perennial
Key Challenges
- Powdery Mildew: Weakens leaves and reduces the crop
- Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission
- Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell
- Slugs: Soft-bodied shell-less molluscs that feed at night on seedlings and leafy vegetables
Pro Tips
- Incorporate compost or aged manure prior to planting; apply a liquid organic fertiliser occasionally during flowering
- Apply organic mulch around the base in spring and summer to conserve root moisture and keep roots cool
- Cut back stems to near ground level in late autumn after flowering finishes to encourage vigorous spring shoots
Pests and problems for Bergamot in Tropical
- Powdery Mildew Space plants for airflow, water at the base, keep roots moist and divide clumps every few years. Watch
- Common Garden Snail Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell Watch
- Slugs Slugs: Soft-bodied shell-less molluscs that feed at night on seedlings and leafy vegetables Watch
- Aphids Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission Watch
Harvesting Bergamot
When ready: Harvest leaves or edible flower petals as needed once stems are 30 cm tall or fully open in mid to late summer
How to harvest: Snip or pinch off outer stems and leaves just above a leaf node, leaving base growth for regeneration
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 Bergamot
When do you plant bergamot in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Oct
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Apr to Oct
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to May, Aug to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Apr, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Apr to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to May, Aug to Dec
Can you grow bergamot all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Oct. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Bergamot in Cairns?
Bergamot struggles in tropical humidity and heat, so grow it in a pot in morning sun and afternoon shade through the dry season, with good airflow to limit mildew.
What soil temperature do Bergamot need?
Bergamot germinate best when soil temperature is between 16°C and 22°C.
How do I know when Bergamot are ready to harvest?
Harvest leaves or edible flower petals as needed once stems are 30 cm tall or fully open in mid to late summer
What are the best Bergamot varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Panorama Mix (Monarda didyma, mixed colours): About 90 cm tall, spaced about 40 cm apart, full or part sun, frost-hardy perennial.
What grows well with Bergamot?
Good companion plants for Bergamot include: Tomato, Basil, Cabbage, Borage, Parsley.
Are bergamot salt tolerant?
Only a little. Bergamot are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
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.