When to Plant Pomelo 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 Pomelo 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
- Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Pomelo, or pummelo, is the largest citrus, a grapefruit ancestor with a thick rind and sweet, drier segments eaten one by one (ABC Gardening Australia).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar P
- Apr P
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Daleys calls pummelo the most adaptable citrus to tropical areas and lists tropical as a home climate. Plant in spring from September (Daleys citrus schedule) or in autumn after the wet. Harvest July to October; Nurseries Online says two to three crops a year in the subtropics, so expect fruit outside this window too.
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How to Grow Pomelo in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep rich soil with good drainage; mound on clay (ABC, Daleys).
- 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 (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Frost pockets, Heavy wet clay without a mound
Tropical Growing Tips for Pomelo
Recommended Varieties
- Nam Roi (Daleys, Nurseries Online)
- K-15 (Nurseries Online)
Key Challenges
- Fruit fly
- Gall wasp
- Not enough heat to sweeten in the south
Pro Tips
- Warmest sheltered spot
- Remove fruit the first two years
- Net or bait for fruit fly
Pests and problems for Pomelo in Tropical
Harvesting Pomelo
When ready: Ripe when the colour changes and the base goes smooth; twists off easily (ABC).
How to harvest: Twist or clip; eat segment by segment, not juiced (ABC).
Storing and preserving pomelo
How to keep it
- Fresh storage. Whole fruit, cool room. Keeps: 2 to 4 weeks.
- Marmalade. Thick peel, tested method, water bath. Keeps: 12 months.
- Canned sections. As grapefruit sections, 10 minutes (NCHFP). Keeps: 12 months.
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 Pomelo
When do you plant pomelo in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Pomelo in Cairns?
Daleys calls pummelo the most adaptable citrus to tropical areas and lists tropical as a home climate. Plant in spring from September (Daleys citrus schedule) or in autumn after the wet. Harvest July to October; Nurseries Online says two to three crops a year in the subtropics, so expect fruit outside this window too.
How do I know when Pomelo are ready to harvest?
Ripe when the colour changes and the base goes smooth; twists off easily (ABC).
What are the best Pomelo varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Nam Roi (Daleys, Nurseries Online), K-15 (Nurseries Online).
Are pomelo salt tolerant?
No. Pomelo 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.