When to Plant Edible Chrysanthemum in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
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 Edible Chrysanthemum 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 Aug
- Days to harvest
- 30 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Edible chrysanthemum (shungiku, chop suey greens) is a fast-growing leafy herb with tender, aromatic, lobed leaves used in stir-fries, soups and hot pots.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr D
- May D
- Jun D
- Jul D
- Aug D
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Edible Chrysanthemum in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich, fertile, moist, organic-rich well-drained loam
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun to partial shade, at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 15-20cm apart, 30cm between rows
- Watering
- Water the soil well before sowing and keep it evenly moist while the seed germinates, then water regularly.
- Good companions
- Lettuce, Onion, Spinach, Silverbeet, Calendula
Tropical Growing Tips for Edible Chrysanthemum
Key Challenges
- Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission
- Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell
- Slugs: Soft-bodied shell-less molluscs that feed at night on seedlings and leafy vegetables
- Snails and Slugs: Severe in winter on dormant crowns
Pro Tips
- Incorporate well-rotted manure or compost before planting; apply a balanced liquid organic fertiliser fortnightly during rapid growth
- Apply a light organic straw mulch around the base to keep soil cool, retain moisture, and suppress weed growth
- Pinch out central stem growing tips when plants reach 15 cm high to promote bushy lateral shoot branching
Pests and problems for Edible Chrysanthemum in Tropical
- Powdery Mildew Start milk sprays before infection appears. Spores travel on wind and insects, so keep plants uncrowded. Watch
- Common Garden Snail Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell Watch
- Slugs Slugs: Soft-bodied shell-less molluscs that feed at night on seedlings and leafy vegetables Watch
- Aphids Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission Watch
Harvesting Edible Chrysanthemum
When ready: Young tender shoots reach 12 to 20 cm tall before flower buds fully open
How to harvest: Pinch or snip shoot tips above lower leaves to encourage bushy side growth for secondary harvests
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 Edible Chrysanthemum
When do you plant edible chrysanthemum in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Jul
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to May, Aug to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to May, Sep to Oct
Can you grow edible chrysanthemum all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Edible Chrysanthemum in Cairns?
Sow during the dry season from May to August in a partially shaded position to prevent heat-induced bolting.
What soil temperature do Edible Chrysanthemum need?
Edible Chrysanthemum germinate best when soil temperature is between 15°C and 22°C.
How do I know when Edible Chrysanthemum are ready to harvest?
Young tender shoots reach 12 to 20 cm tall before flower buds fully open
What grows well with Edible Chrysanthemum?
Good companion plants for Edible Chrysanthemum include: Lettuce, Onion, Spinach, Silverbeet, Calendula.
Are edible chrysanthemum salt tolerant?
Only a little. Edible chrysanthemum 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.