When to Plant Kangkong 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 Kangkong 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
- All year
- Days to harvest
- 35 days
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 18 cm apart
Kangkong is also called water spinach. It grows fast in heat and plenty of water, and you can cut it again and again. Before you plant it, check with your local council or state department of agriculture.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan D
- Feb D
- Mar D
- Apr D
- May D
- Jun D
- Jul D
- Aug D
- Sep D
- Oct D
- Nov D
- Dec D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
You can sow kangkong in any month in Tropical, but the months are not equal. Summer heat brings faster bolting and heavier pest pressure, so pick a heat tolerant variety, sow little and often, and give afternoon shade from December through February.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Kangkong in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich, constantly damp soil. It will also grow in shallow water.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- Sunlight
- Full sun.
- Spacing
- 18cm apart
- Watering
- Keep the soil wet at all times. No amounts are given by the source.
- Grow before it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
- Grow after it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
Give the bed 3 turns before leafy greens go back in. Leaf crops want the nitrogen the legumes left behind.
Tropical Growing Tips for Kangkong
Key Challenges
- Grasshoppers
- Caterpillars
- Escape into waterways
Pro Tips
- Keep it in a container or bed
- Cut before flowering
- Cut about 10 cm above the ground
Pests and problems for Kangkong in Tropical
Harvesting Kangkong
When ready: Harvest before flowering, when shoots are tender.
How to harvest: Cut 10 cm above the ground. It regrows in 2 to 3 weeks (Rob Pyne).
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 Kangkong
When do you plant kangkong in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): all year
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Dec
Can you grow kangkong all year round in Cairns?
Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Tropical zone, though not every month is equally easy. Sow seed or push cuttings in all year (Rob Pyne). Best at the start of the wet season. Plants like 20 to 35°C and plenty of water. Cut before flowering.
When should I plant Kangkong in Cairns?
Sow seed or push cuttings in all year (Rob Pyne). Best at the start of the wet season. Plants like 20 to 35°C and plenty of water. Cut before flowering.
What soil temperature do Kangkong need?
Kangkong germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 35°C.
How do I know when Kangkong are ready to harvest?
Harvest before flowering, when shoots are tender.
Are kangkong salt tolerant?
Only a little. Kangkong 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.