When to Plant Longan 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 Longan 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
- Nov to Mar
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Longan is a hardy evergreen relative of lychee, growing 10 to 20 m unpruned or 3 to 4 m kept small, and is more cold and wind tolerant than lychee (Daleys).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
- Jan P
- Feb P
- Mar P
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Flowering is August to October in North Queensland with harvest mid January to mid March (FAO). Kohala is early and heavy. Planting months are our estimate: the start of the wet season. Flowering needs a cool dry winter, so bloom is poor after a warm winter (IFAS; Morton).
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How to Grow Longan in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Well drained soil with high soil moisture (Daleys). Intolerant of salt (IFAS).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun with wind protection for young trees (Daleys review).
- Keep away from
- Salty soil or bore water (IFAS), Windy exposed sites for young trees (Daleys review)
Tropical Growing Tips for Longan
Recommended Varieties
- Kohala, early and heavy (Daleys)
- Haew, late, alternate bearing (Daleys)
- Dang (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Poor flowering after a warm winter (IFAS)
- Fruit fly
- Erinose mite
Pro Tips
- Plant at the start of the wet
- Net before fruit colours
Pests and problems for Longan in Tropical
Harvesting Longan
When ready: Skin turns yellow brown to tan and the flesh tastes sweet; fruit does not sweeten after picking (Daleys; IFAS).
How to harvest: Cut whole panicles with secateurs and keep the fruit on the stem (IFAS).
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 Longan
When do you plant longan in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Mar, Nov to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Longan in Cairns?
Flowering is August to October in North Queensland with harvest mid January to mid March (FAO). Kohala is early and heavy. Planting months are our estimate: the start of the wet season. Flowering needs a cool dry winter, so bloom is poor after a warm winter (IFAS; Morton).
How do I know when Longan are ready to harvest?
Skin turns yellow brown to tan and the flesh tastes sweet; fruit does not sweeten after picking (Daleys; IFAS).
What are the best Longan varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Kohala, early and heavy (Daleys), Haew, late, alternate bearing (Daleys), Dang (Daleys).
Are longan salt tolerant?
No. Longan 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.