When to Plant Mangosteen 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 Mangosteen 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 to part shade
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Mangosteen is a slow tropical tree with a thick purple rind and sweet white segments. Daleys says it is suitable only for tropical climates or a warm greenhouse, and likes temperatures above 5 degrees (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
Fruits April, May and June. A Cairns grower says it fruits within six years if pampered and cannot handle wind or drying out. Planting months are our estimate for a nursery tree: plant in the warm, wet months so the roots settle before any dry or cool weather.
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How to Grow Mangosteen in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep, rich organic soil, sandy loam or laterite, with good drainage and no limestone (Morton). Daleys asks for good drainage.
- 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 on the Daleys listing. A Gold Coast grower has a 5 m seedling under palms, and Morton notes thread blight in shaded humid sites, so light shade for young trees is a grower practice, not a sourced rule.
- Keep away from
- Windy spots, Salt spray and salty water (Morton), Limestone soil (Morton)
Tropical Growing Tips for Mangosteen
Recommended Varieties
- Seedling mangosteen (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Wind
- Drying out
- Very slow to fruit
Pro Tips
- Plant in the wet season
- Deep mulch and water that never stops
- Shelter from wind
Pests and problems for Mangosteen in Tropical
Harvesting Mangosteen
When ready: Full purple colour and slight softening (Morton). Fruit with more stigma lobes at the tip has more segments and fewer seeds (Morton).
How to harvest: Pick by hand with a ladder or cutting pole. Never let fruit fall (Morton).
Storing and preserving mangosteen
How to keep it
- freezing. Open the rind, lift out the segments, tray freeze, then bag. Sugar is optional and is only for flavour and texture (NCHFP). Keeps: Up to 12 months in a sealed container (NCHFP general guidance).
- fresh_storage. Pick at full colour with slight softening. Keep in the fridge crisper or a cool dry cupboard. Keeps: 3 to 4 weeks at 4 to 13 degrees (Morton).
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 Mangosteen
When do you plant mangosteen 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, Oct to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan, Nov to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): not recommended
When should I plant Mangosteen in Cairns?
Fruits April, May and June. A Cairns grower says it fruits within six years if pampered and cannot handle wind or drying out. Planting months are our estimate for a nursery tree: plant in the warm, wet months so the roots settle before any dry or cool weather.
How do I know when Mangosteen are ready to harvest?
Full purple colour and slight softening (Morton). Fruit with more stigma lobes at the tip has more segments and fewer seeds (Morton).
What are the best Mangosteen varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Seedling mangosteen (Daleys).
Are mangosteen salt tolerant?
No. Mangosteen 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.