When to Plant Custard Apple 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 Custard Apple 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
Custard apple as grown in Australia is the atemoya, a cross of cherimoya and sugar apple; Pinks Mammoth and African Pride are the main Queensland types (Morton).
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
Grown commercially on the Atherton Tablelands (Custard Apples Australia). Tropic Sun was bred for the Tablelands and reviews come from Cairns and Townsville. Harvest March to August. Planting months are our estimate: plant at the start of the wet season so the tree settles with the rain. Keep from frosty tableland pockets.
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How to Grow Custard Apple in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Fertile, sunny, well drained soil (Daleys). Intolerant of wet soil (IFAS); waterlogging is fatal (Morton). Mound up in clay.
- 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 (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Frost pockets, Hot dry wind (Daleys), Wet or heavy soil (IFAS), Pond apple rootstock (NSW WeedWise)
Tropical Growing Tips for Custard Apple
Recommended Varieties
- Tropic Sun (bred for the Atherton Tablelands, Daleys)
- African Pride (main commercial variety, Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Fruit fly
- Mealybugs and ants
- Skin rot in a wet harvest
Pro Tips
- Plant at the start of the wet season
- Net the fruit or bag it
Pests and problems for Custard Apple in Tropical
Harvesting Custard Apple
When ready: Skin turns from green to yellowish green, the segments swell and flatten and a bloom appears on the skin (IFAS). Pick firm; fruit ripens off the tree at 18 to 24 degrees and will not ripen below 13 degrees (Custard Apples Australia).
How to harvest: Cut with a short stem, handle gently and let fruit soften at room temperature, then eat or refrigerate for 2 to 4 days (IFAS). Unripe fruit holds at 8 to 12 degrees for up to 5 days (Custard Apples Australia).
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 Custard Apple
When do you plant custard apple 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): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Custard Apple in Cairns?
Grown commercially on the Atherton Tablelands (Custard Apples Australia). Tropic Sun was bred for the Tablelands and reviews come from Cairns and Townsville. Harvest March to August. Planting months are our estimate: plant at the start of the wet season so the tree settles with the rain. Keep from frosty tableland pockets.
How do I know when Custard Apple are ready to harvest?
Skin turns from green to yellowish green, the segments swell and flatten and a bloom appears on the skin (IFAS). Pick firm; fruit ripens off the tree at 18 to 24 degrees and will not ripen below 13 degrees (Custard Apples Australia).
What are the best Custard Apple varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Tropic Sun (bred for the Atherton Tablelands, Daleys), African Pride (main commercial variety, Daleys).
Are custard apple salt tolerant?
No. Custard apple 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.