When to Plant Orange 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 Orange 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.

Orange

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Classic backyard citrus. Sweet oranges need more heat than lemons for sweetness development. Coastal Melbourne oranges are noticeably more tart than those from Mildura or the Riverland. Navel oranges (seedless, eating) and Valencia oranges (juicing, summer fruit) are the main types. Trees are medium-sized, attractive, and productive for decades. Grafted onto appropriate rootstock.

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 Orange in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

Plant anytime.

Soil
Well-drained, slightly acidic. Same requirements as other citrus.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun, minimum 6-8 hours. More heat = sweeter fruit.

Companion plants: Nasturtium, Comfrey, Marigold

Avoid planting near: Grass right to trunk

Tropical Growing Tips for Orange

Recommended Varieties

  • Valencia (juicing, summer fruit)
  • Navel (eating, winter fruit)
  • Washington Navel

Key Challenges

  • Fruit less sweet than from cooler areas
  • Disease pressure higher

Pro Tips

  • Oranges grow well but fruit quality is better from areas with cooler winters.
  • Valencia is the better choice for tropics.

Harvesting Orange

When ready: Full orange colour (some green at stem end is normal). Taste test. Sweetness develops with time on tree. Navel oranges ripen faster than Valencia.

How to harvest: Cut with secateurs or twist-pull.

Where to next

What orange 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 orange: Possums (Common Brushtail, Ringtail).

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $2.27/kg (12-month range: $1.33–$3.99)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

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Common Questions About Orange

When do you plant orange in Australia?

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

Does orange 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.