When to Plant Goji Berry 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 Goji Berry 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
- Feb to Oct
- Days to harvest
- about 104 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 200 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.0
Goji berry is a deciduous, frost-tolerant, sprawling shrub that grows 1 to 2.5 m high and wide and bears small red berries. Plants usually take 2 to 3 years to fruit and crop best at 3 to 5 years.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb S/D
- Mar S/D
- Apr S/T/D
- May S/T/D
- Jun S/T/D
- Jul S/T/D
- Aug S/T/D
- Sep S/T/D
- Oct T
- Nov -
- Dec -
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, Goji Berry included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Goji Berry in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Well-draining sandy loam or light soil
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.5-8.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 200cm apart, 200cm between rows
- Watering
- Water when the soil is dry about 5 cm down, and keep water off the leaves. Daleys rates the water need as moderate.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Basil, Chives, Garlic, Comfrey
Tropical Growing Tips for Goji Berry
Recommended Varieties
- Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum var. goji) (sprawling shrub or vine): Daleys also sells a more vine-like, more heat tolerant form
Key Challenges
- Fruit Fly: Larvae in developing fruit cause rot
- Birds and Possums: Take nearly ripe fruit (GrowVeg, Love The Garden, Qld club)
- Spider Mites: Sap sucking causes leaf discolouration and drop
- Powdery Mildew: Weakens leaves and reduces the crop
Pro Tips
- Top-dress with well-rotted compost or a balanced organic fertiliser in early spring; avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers which reduce fruiting
- Apply a layer of organic straw or wood mulch around the drip line to conserve moisture and keep weeds down
- Stake young plants or train main canes onto a trellis or fence to keep arching fruiting branches elevated
Pests and problems for Goji Berry in Tropical
Harvesting Goji Berry
When ready: Berries turn fully bright orange-red and pull easily from the stem in late summer and autumn
How to harvest: Pick berries carefully by hand or shake onto a clean sheet to avoid bruising fresh fruit
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 Goji Berry
When do you plant goji berry in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Feb to Oct
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Mar, Jul to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Aug to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Jul to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
Can you grow goji berry all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Feb to Oct. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Goji Berry in Cairns?
Goji plants grow in warm areas but fruit best after some cold, so expect lots of leaf and light fruit in the tropics; plant it in the ground in full sun with free drainage.
What soil temperature do Goji Berry need?
Goji Berry germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 25°C.
How do I know when Goji Berry are ready to harvest?
Berries turn fully bright orange-red and pull easily from the stem in late summer and autumn
What are the best Goji Berry varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum var. goji) (sprawling shrub or vine): Daleys also sells a more vine-like, more heat tolerant form.
What grows well with Goji Berry?
Good companion plants for Goji Berry include: Nasturtium, Basil, Chives, Garlic, Comfrey.
Are goji berry salt tolerant?
No. Goji berry 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.