When to Plant Loquat 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 Loquat 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
- May to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
The loquat is an evergreen tree with sweet, apricot like fruit in late winter and spring, when little else is ripe. It is self fertile, grows in warm temperate and subtropical gardens, and tolerates light frost.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May P
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
No tropical source found. Daleys lists subtropical and warm temperate as suited. Plant in the drier months and mound the soil. Fruit months are our estimate.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Loquat in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Free draining soil (Daleys, Planting Season).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun, at least 6 hours a day (Planting Season).
- Keep away from
- Bushland and creek lines, Waterlogged ground
Tropical Growing Tips for Loquat
Recommended Varieties
- Nagasakiwase (early, large)
- Bessell Brown (prunable to about 2 m)
- Seedling loquats (variable, and spread easily)
Key Challenges
- Humid wet season
- Fruit fly
Pro Tips
- Plant in the drier months
- Mound the soil
Pests and problems for Loquat in Tropical
Harvesting Loquat
How to harvest: Pick clusters when the fruit is fully coloured, before birds get them.
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 Loquat
When do you plant loquat in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): May to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): May to Sep
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): May to Sep
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): May to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): May to Sep
When should I plant Loquat in Cairns?
No tropical source found. Daleys lists subtropical and warm temperate as suited. Plant in the drier months and mound the soil. Fruit months are our estimate.
What are the best Loquat varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Nagasakiwase (early, large), Bessell Brown (prunable to about 2 m), Seedling loquats (variable, and spread easily).
Are loquat salt tolerant?
No. Loquat 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.