When to Plant Curry Leaf 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.
Jump to section
This Curry Leaf 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
- Sep to Mar
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
Curry leaf is an evergreen tropical tree grown for its fragrant leaves. It likes warmth, sun and free draining soil.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan T
- Feb T
- Mar T
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep T
- Oct T
- Nov T
- Dec T
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, Curry Leaf included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Curry Leaf in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Free draining soil enriched with well rotted compost (Guildford Garden Centre). Adapts to most soils if well drained (Garden Express).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade (Garden Express). A sunny to semi shaded spot (Guildford Garden Centre).
Tropical Growing Tips for Curry Leaf
Recommended Varieties
- Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii)
Key Challenges
- Wet season drainage
- Sap sucking insects
Pro Tips
- Plant on a mound
- Prune to keep it bushy
Pests and problems for Curry Leaf in Tropical
Harvesting Curry Leaf
When ready: Pick leaves while they are green and full of flavour (Garden Express).
How to harvest: Pick leaves as needed. They do not keep well, so avoid storing them (Guildford Garden Centre).
Storing and preserving curry leaf
How to keep it
- Freezing. Freeze whole leaves (Garden Express).
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 Curry Leaf
When do you plant curry leaf in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Feb, Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Dec
Can you grow curry leaf all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Curry Leaf in Cairns?
Tropical to subtropical tree, so it suits the tropics. Plant in the warmer months (Guildford Garden Centre). Daleys lists leaf picking in every month from February to December. Plant on a mound for wet season drainage.
How do I know when Curry Leaf are ready to harvest?
Pick leaves while they are green and full of flavour (Garden Express).
What are the best Curry Leaf varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii).
Are curry leaf salt tolerant?
Only a little. Curry leaf 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.