When to Plant Carambola 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 Carambola 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
Carambola, or star fruit, is a small evergreen tree of 3 to 5 m, or 2 to 3 m pruned, for warm humid tropical and subtropical gardens, with waxy yellow ribbed fruit that cuts into stars (Daleys).
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
Carambola comes from the warm humid tropics and sets fruit year round with a peak in late winter. Harvest March to September. Planting months are our estimate: the start of the wet season. Shelter from constant wind (IFAS).
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How to Grow Carambola in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich moist soil with compost and manure, mulched (Daleys); pH 4.5 to 7 (IFAS); no flooding (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, sheltered from constant wind (IFAS).
- Keep away from
- Windy sites (IFAS), Wet ground (Morton), Limestone soil (Morton)
Tropical Growing Tips for Carambola
Recommended Varieties
- Maher, also sold as Sweet Gold, grafted (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Fruit fly
- Wind
- Anthracnose in the wet
Pro Tips
- Bag the fruit
- Prune to 2 to 3 m so netting is easy (Daleys)
Pests and problems for Carambola in Tropical
Harvesting Carambola
When ready: Pick when the furrows turn yellow and only the rib tips are still green; fruit gains no sugar after picking (IFAS).
How to harvest: Clip the fruit with a short stem and handle gently; the ribs bruise.
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 Carambola
When do you plant carambola 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 Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): not recommended
When should I plant Carambola in Cairns?
Carambola comes from the warm humid tropics and sets fruit year round with a peak in late winter. Harvest March to September. Planting months are our estimate: the start of the wet season. Shelter from constant wind (IFAS).
How do I know when Carambola are ready to harvest?
Pick when the furrows turn yellow and only the rib tips are still green; fruit gains no sugar after picking (IFAS).
What are the best Carambola varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Maher, also sold as Sweet Gold, grafted (Daleys).
Are carambola salt tolerant?
No. Carambola 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.