When to Plant Rambutan 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 Rambutan 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
- Nov to Mar
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Rambutan is a tropical tree to 10 m or more, a relative of lychee and longan, with hairy red fruit and sweet white flesh in February and March (Daleys).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
- Jan P
- Feb P
- Mar P
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Rambutan is strictly tropical and very cold sensitive, grown in the tropics only. Daleys lists fruit in February and March. Plant three trees, as male and female plants are separate and a male is needed. Planting months are our estimate: the wet season, with frequent water.
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How to Grow Rambutan in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep, rich, perfectly drained soil, never waterlogged (Daleys; Morton).
- 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 with shelter from wind (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Wet or heavy ground (Daleys), Windy sites (Daleys)
Tropical Growing Tips for Rambutan
Recommended Varieties
- Seedling trees from Daleys (no named variety sold)
- Named Asian types such as R134 and Jitlee are budded elsewhere (Morton)
Key Challenges
- Needs a male plant: buy three (Daleys)
- Cold snaps
- Waterlogging
- Fruit bats and birds
Pro Tips
- Shelter from wind (Daleys)
- Water often, never let it dry out (Daleys)
- Mulch deep
Pests and problems for Rambutan in Tropical
Harvesting Rambutan
When ready: Rind and spines turn fully red (or yellow in some types); fruit does not ripen further after picking (Morton).
How to harvest: Cut the whole fruit cluster with secateurs; snapping single fruit shortens their keeping (Morton). Pick promptly, as over ripe fruit draws fruit flies (Morton).
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 Rambutan
When do you plant rambutan in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Mar, Nov to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): not recommended
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): not recommended
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): not recommended
When should I plant Rambutan in Cairns?
Rambutan is strictly tropical and very cold sensitive, grown in the tropics only. Daleys lists fruit in February and March. Plant three trees, as male and female plants are separate and a male is needed. Planting months are our estimate: the wet season, with frequent water.
How do I know when Rambutan are ready to harvest?
Rind and spines turn fully red (or yellow in some types); fruit does not ripen further after picking (Morton).
What are the best Rambutan varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Seedling trees from Daleys (no named variety sold), Named Asian types such as R134 and Jitlee are budded elsewhere (Morton).
Are rambutan salt tolerant?
No. Rambutan 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.