When to Plant Quince 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 Quince 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.
- Days to harvest
- about 261 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Quince is a hardy deciduous tree that suits colder areas and tolerates dry (SGA).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
Quince is not recommended for Tropical.
Quince suits colder areas (SGA) and Daleys lists it for subtropical and warm temperate only. No source lists it for the tropics, and a deciduous tree that needs a winter will not fruit there.
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How to Grow Quince in Tropical Australia
Tropical Growing Tips for Quince
Key Challenges
- No winter
Pests and problems for Quince in Tropical
Harvesting Quince
When ready: Fruit turns from green to full yellow and smells strongly; March to May (Daleys).
How to harvest: Twist or cut the fruit off; it bruises, so handle gently.
Storing and preserving quince
How to keep it
- Freezing. Poach, cool, freeze in portions. Keeps: 8 to 12 months.
- Quince jelly. NCHFP quince jelly without pectin, water bath 5 minutes at sea level. Keeps: 1 year.
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 Quince
When do you plant quince 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 Quince in Cairns?
Quince suits colder areas (SGA) and Daleys lists it for subtropical and warm temperate only. No source lists it for the tropics, and a deciduous tree that needs a winter will not fruit there.
How do I know when Quince are ready to harvest?
Fruit turns from green to full yellow and smells strongly; March to May (Daleys).
What grows well with Quince?
Good companion plants for Quince include: Nasturtium, Chives, Dill, Garlic, Comfrey.
Are quince salt tolerant?
No. Quince 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.