When to Plant Blackberry 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 Blackberry 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
- Soil pH
- about 6 (GrowVeg)
Wild blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg.) is a Weed of National Significance and is declared in every state and territory. Grow only named thornless garden cultivars such as Chester or Thornfree.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
Blackberry is not recommended for Tropical.
Thornless blackberries need about 400 chill hours or more, and warm winter climates give poor flowering and fruit set (Fruit Tree Lane). Fruit Tree Lane also does not ship to the NT. Not a tropical crop.
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How to Grow Blackberry in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Fertile soil enriched with compost, pH about 6 (GrowVeg).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- about 6 (GrowVeg)
- Sunlight
- Full sun in cool areas. Shelter from hot afternoon sun in warm temperate areas (Fruit Tree Lane).
- Keep away from
- Bushland edges, Warm winter sites
Tropical Growing Tips for Blackberry
Recommended Varieties
- Chester (later fruiting)
- Thornfree
- Waldo, Adrienne
Key Challenges
- Not enough chill
Pro Tips
- Not recommended
Pests and problems for Blackberry in Tropical
Harvesting Blackberry
How to harvest: Pick over a long season as the fruit ripens (GrowVeg).
What blackberry costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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 Blackberry
When do you plant blackberry 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): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Blackberry in Cairns?
Thornless blackberries need about 400 chill hours or more, and warm winter climates give poor flowering and fruit set (Fruit Tree Lane). Fruit Tree Lane also does not ship to the NT. Not a tropical crop.
What are the best Blackberry varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Chester (later fruiting), Thornfree, Waldo, Adrienne.
Are blackberry salt tolerant?
No. Blackberry 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.