When to Plant Cherimoya 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 Cherimoya 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 Jun
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7.6
Cherimoya is the cold hardy custard apple, a briefly deciduous tree of 6 to 8 m, or 2 to 5 m pruned, suited to subtropical and warm temperate gardens (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 -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr P
- May P
- Jun P
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Daleys lists cherimoya for subtropical and warm temperate climates only, and Morton says it does not succeed in the lowland tropics. Tableland gardens above the coastal heat may grow it, but no source gives harvest months there, so none are listed. Plant at the end of the wet season into free draining soil.
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How to Grow Cherimoya in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Free draining sand or sandy loam (Daleys). Root rot in clay (Morton).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.5-7.6
- Sunlight
- Full sun; protect young trees from hot windy sites (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Heavy clay (Morton), Strong wind (Morton), Pond apple rootstock (NSW WeedWise)
Tropical Growing Tips for Cherimoya
Recommended Varieties
- Fina de Jete (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Lowland heat (Morton)
- Wet season root rot
Pro Tips
- Try only on a cool tableland
- Mound up in free draining soil
Pests and problems for Cherimoya in Tropical
Harvesting Cherimoya
When ready: Pick while firm when the skin shows a yellow green tinge (Morton).
How to harvest: Clip with a short stem and ripen at room temperature for 3 to 4 days (Morton).
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 Cherimoya
When do you plant cherimoya in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Cherimoya in Cairns?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Daleys lists cherimoya for subtropical and warm temperate climates only, and Morton says it does not succeed in the lowland tropics. Tableland gardens above the coastal heat may grow it, but no source gives harvest months there, so none are listed. Plant at the end of the wet season into free draining soil.
How do I know when Cherimoya are ready to harvest?
Pick while firm when the skin shows a yellow green tinge (Morton).
What are the best Cherimoya varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Fina de Jete (Daleys).
Are cherimoya salt tolerant?
No. Cherimoya 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.