When to Plant Kiwifruit 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 Kiwifruit 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
Kiwifruit is a vigorous deciduous climbing vine that needs a sturdy pergola or fence. Plants are male or female, so you need both. Plant dormant vines in winter.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
Kiwifruit is not recommended for Tropical.
No tropical growing source was found. Kiwifruit vines go dormant in winter and the Hayward variety needs more winter chill than most. Even the very low chill varieties are described as suited to the subtropics, not the tropics. Not a garden crop here.
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How to Grow Kiwifruit in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Free draining soil. Kiwifruit hate wet feet (Love the Garden). Acidic soil suits it.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- Sunlight
- Full sun (Love the Garden).
- Keep away from
- Waterlogged soil, Frost pockets
Tropical Growing Tips for Kiwifruit
Recommended Varieties
- Hayward (standard, needs more chill)
- Dexter, Bruno, Sweetie, Waynes, H4 (lower chill, Daleys)
- Kiwiberry Issai (hardy, self fertile)
Key Challenges
- Not enough winter chill
- Heat
Pro Tips
- Not recommended
Pests and problems for Kiwifruit in Tropical
Harvesting Kiwifruit
What kiwifruit costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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 Kiwifruit
When do you plant kiwifruit in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jul to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Kiwifruit in Cairns?
No tropical growing source was found. Kiwifruit vines go dormant in winter and the Hayward variety needs more winter chill than most. Even the very low chill varieties are described as suited to the subtropics, not the tropics. Not a garden crop here.
What are the best Kiwifruit varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Hayward (standard, needs more chill), Dexter, Bruno, Sweetie, Waynes, H4 (lower chill, Daleys), Kiwiberry Issai (hardy, self fertile).
Are kiwifruit salt tolerant?
No. Kiwifruit 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.