When to Plant Hazelnut 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 Hazelnut 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.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–6.5
A small deciduous tree or multi stemmed bush for cold winter, cool summer districts: the apple country of Victoria, Tasmania, the Granite Belt and the Adelaide Hills (Daleys, Bulleen Art and Garden, InDaily).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
Hazelnut is not recommended for Tropical.
Hazelnut needs 600 to 1200 hours of winter chill below 7 degrees and cool summers (Bulleen Art and Garden, Daleys). The tropics give neither.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Hazelnut included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Hazelnut in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Well drained but moist loam, or light sandy to gravelly soil (Bulleen Art and Garden, Daleys). Shallow roots like a 100 mm compost mulch (Organic Gardener).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-6.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Bulleen Art and Garden).
- Keep away from
- Hot windy sites, Salty bore water
Tropical Growing Tips for Hazelnut
Key Challenges
- No chill
Pro Tips
- Grow macadamia or cashew instead
Pests and problems for Hazelnut in Tropical
Harvesting Hazelnut
When ready: Nuts drop from the husks over about two weeks; a gentle shake brings more down (Bulleen Art and Garden).
How to harvest: Sweep or knock nuts onto tarps, dehusk and dry (Organic Gardener).
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 Hazelnut
When do you plant hazelnut in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): not recommended
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Hazelnut in Cairns?
Hazelnut needs 600 to 1200 hours of winter chill below 7 degrees and cool summers (Bulleen Art and Garden, Daleys). The tropics give neither.
How do I know when Hazelnut are ready to harvest?
Nuts drop from the husks over about two weeks; a gentle shake brings more down (Bulleen Art and Garden).
Are hazelnut salt tolerant?
No. Hazelnut 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.