When to Plant Mandarin in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Plant year round in Cairns. That includes right now, in September.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Mandarin 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.

Mandarin

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Easy-peel citrus that's extremely popular in Australian home gardens. Huge variety range from early to late season, covering harvest from April to November. Imperial is the classic Australian variety. Trees are generally smaller and more compact than oranges or grapefruit, making them excellent for suburban gardens. Grafted trees fruit in 2-3 years. Most varieties produce heavy crops of sweet, easy-to-peel fruit that kids love.

Best Planting Window for Tropical

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
P P P P P P P P P P P P

P = Planting window

Plant anytime.

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How to Grow Mandarin in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

Plant anytime.

Soil
Well-drained, slightly acidic. Reasonable tolerance of various soils.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun. 6+ hours direct.

Companion plants: Nasturtium, Comfrey, Marigold

Avoid planting near: Grass to trunk

Tropical Growing Tips for Mandarin

Recommended Varieties

  • Imperial
  • Emperor
  • Murcott
  • Ellendale

Key Challenges

  • Heavy fruit fly pressure
  • Thick rind development
  • Less sweetness than temperate-grown

Pro Tips

  • Mandarins grow fine in tropics but fruit is typically less sweet than from cooler areas.
  • Netting essential for fruit fly.

Harvesting Mandarin

When ready: Full colour development (orange). Easy peel test, skin separates easily. Taste test is definitive. Sweeter the longer left on tree (within reason).

How to harvest: Cut with secateurs leaving short stub, or twist-pull gently.

Where to next

What mandarin costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the tropical zone this September: Lemongrass, Ginger, Cucumber and Basil.

The pest most likely to find your mandarin: Possums (Common Brushtail, Ringtail).

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $4.13/kg (12-month range: $2.90–$10.53)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

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Common Questions About Mandarin

When do you plant mandarin in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does mandarin grow all year round in Cairns?

Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Tropical zone, though not every month is equally easy. Plant anytime.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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.