When to Plant Nectarine 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 Nectarine 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.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Shop price
- $3.90/kg at one shop
Nectarine is a smooth skinned peach relative and grows the same way. It is a deciduous tree planted bare root in winter. Low chill varieties reach the subtropics, and fruit ripens from October to February.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
Nectarine is not recommended for Tropical.
Nectarines need winter chill. Even the lowest chill listings (Sunwright about 150 hours, White Satin 250) are sold for subtropical and warm temperate areas. We found no source for tropical growing.
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How to Grow Nectarine in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Moisture retentive but well drained. Avoid heavy soils (GrowVeg).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- Sunlight
- Full sun, to limit disease and give good fruit (GrowVeg).
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Chives, Garlic, Lavender, Rosemary
- Keep away from
- Heavy clay, Waterlogged ground
Tropical Growing Tips for Nectarine
Recommended Varieties
- Sunbob, Sunwright, White Satin (low chill, Daleys)
- Nectar-cot, Sunny Belle (warm winters, Qld and northern NSW)
- Royal Gem, Arctic Rose (cooler winters)
Key Challenges
- No winter chill
Pro Tips
- Not recommended
Pests and problems for Nectarine in Tropical
Harvesting Nectarine
When ready: Colour fully developed and the flesh feels soft near the stalk (GrowVeg).
How to harvest: The fruit should pull away easily.
What nectarine costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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 Nectarine
When do you plant nectarine in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Nectarine in Cairns?
Nectarines need winter chill. Even the lowest chill listings (Sunwright about 150 hours, White Satin 250) are sold for subtropical and warm temperate areas. We found no source for tropical growing.
How do I know when Nectarine are ready to harvest?
Colour fully developed and the flesh feels soft near the stalk (GrowVeg).
What are the best Nectarine varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Sunbob, Sunwright, White Satin (low chill, Daleys), Nectar-cot, Sunny Belle (warm winters, Qld and northern NSW), Royal Gem, Arctic Rose (cooler winters).
What grows well with Nectarine?
Good companion plants for Nectarine include: Nasturtium, Chives, Garlic, Lavender, Rosemary.
Are nectarine salt tolerant?
No. Nectarine 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.