When to Plant Nashi 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 Nashi 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
- Jun to Aug
- Days to harvest
- about 104 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Nashi is a deciduous tree that grows about 4 m tall and wide and produces round, crisp, juicy fruit.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun ✓
- Jul ✓
- Aug ✓
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Nashi included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Nashi in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep, rich, organic-rich well-drained loam
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 200-400cm apart, 400cm between rows
- Watering
- water regularly to keep soil moist, reduce watering in autumn and winter
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Chives, Garlic, Comfrey, Borage
Tropical Growing Tips for Nashi
Recommended Varieties
- Hosui (Nashi, grafted tree): Harvest about February to April. Partly self-fertile but crops better with a cross-pollinator such as Shinsui, Nijisseiki or Kosui
- Nijisseiki (20th Century) (Nashi, grafted tree): Harvest about March to April. Sets fruit without pollination but fruit is smaller, other nashi help
- Shinseiki (Nashi, grafted tree): Listed as self-pollinating with a lower chill requirement than most, though a cross-pollinator is still suggested
Key Challenges
- Not enough winter chill for most varieties, so crops are lighter than in cooler areas
- Queensland fruit fly
- Wildlife taking fruit
Pro Tips
- Choose a very low chill variety such as Tropical Sunshu, which sets fruit on its own
- Net the tree once flowering is over
Pests and problems for Nashi in Tropical
Harvesting Nashi
When ready: Fruit skin changes colour from green to golden brown or yellow-green, gives off a subtle fragrance, and lifts easily from the spur when gently lifted and twisted
How to harvest: Cup the fruit gently and tilt upward to snap the stem cleanly without bruising the delicate skin
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 Nashi
When do you plant nashi in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jun to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jul to Sep
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
Can you grow nashi all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Jun to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Nashi in Cairns?
Nashi needs some winter chill, so choose a very low chill variety such as Tropical Sunshu and net the fruit against fruit fly; expect lighter crops than in cooler areas.
How do I know when Nashi are ready to harvest?
Fruit skin changes colour from green to golden brown or yellow-green, gives off a subtle fragrance, and lifts easily from the spur when gently lifted and twisted
What are the best Nashi varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Hosui (Nashi, grafted tree): Harvest about February to April. Partly self-fertile but crops better with a cross-pollinator such as Shinsui, Nijisseiki or Kosui, Nijisseiki (20th Century) (Nashi, grafted tree): Harvest about March to April. Sets fruit without pollination but fruit is smaller, other nashi help, Shinseiki (Nashi, grafted tree): Listed as self-pollinating with a lower chill requirement than most, though a cross-pollinator is still suggested.
What grows well with Nashi?
Good companion plants for Nashi include: Nasturtium, Chives, Garlic, Comfrey, Borage.
Are nashi salt tolerant?
No. Nashi 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.