When to Plant Lychee 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 Lychee 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
- Apr to Sep
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Lychee is a slow growing evergreen tree grown for its sweet, juicy fruit with a rough red skin. It wants a frost free site, shelter from wind and regular water.
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 P
- May P
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep P
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Atherton Tableland fruit was picked from early November to late January (Am Pomological Society). Flowering needs a cool snap, and warm Cairns winters gave poor flowering (RFC). Plant potted trees in the cooler, drier months and avoid the height of summer (Love The Garden).
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Lychee in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep, free draining soil enriched with compost or decomposed manure (Bunnings). Slightly acidic soil (Love The Garden).
- 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, sheltered from strong winds (Love The Garden). Young trees do better in part shade and shade cloth at first (Bunnings).
- Keep away from
- Frost pockets, Windy exposed spots
Tropical Growing Tips for Lychee
Recommended Varieties
- Wai Chee (semi dwarf, self pollinating, Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Warm winters give poor flowering
- Bats and flying foxes
- Fruit fly
Pro Tips
- Net the tree
- Plant in the dry season
Pests and problems for Lychee in Tropical
Harvesting Lychee
When ready: Harvest when the skin is fully red or pink. Fruit does not ripen after picking (Love The Garden).
How to harvest: Pick whole clusters in the morning (Love The Garden).
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 Lychee
When do you plant lychee in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Sep
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Apr to Sep
- 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 Lychee in Cairns?
Atherton Tableland fruit was picked from early November to late January (Am Pomological Society). Flowering needs a cool snap, and warm Cairns winters gave poor flowering (RFC). Plant potted trees in the cooler, drier months and avoid the height of summer (Love The Garden).
How do I know when Lychee are ready to harvest?
Harvest when the skin is fully red or pink. Fruit does not ripen after picking (Love The Garden).
What are the best Lychee varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Wai Chee (semi dwarf, self pollinating, Daleys).
Are lychee salt tolerant?
No. Lychee 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.