When to Plant Raspberry 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 Raspberry 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 to part shade
- Soil pH
- 5.5–6.5
- Shop price
- $41.96/kg
Suckering deciduous cane fruit. Two types: summer-bearing (fruit on previous year's canes, one crop per year) and everbearing/primocane (fruit on current year's canes, extended harvest autumn into spring).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
Raspberry is not recommended for Tropical.
Not suitable. Too hot.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Raspberry included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Raspberry in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic, rich in organic matter. Raised beds recommended in heavy soils.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 5.5-6.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun in cool climates. Morning sun with afternoon shade in warm zones.
- Good companions
- Marigold, Tansy
- Keep away from
- Potato (share diseases), Tomato (share diseases)
Tropical Growing Tips for Raspberry
Key Challenges
- Excessive heat
- No dormancy
- Disease pressure extreme
Pro Tips
- Do not attempt raspberries in tropical zones.
Pests and problems for Raspberry in Tropical
Harvesting Raspberry
When ready: Full colour (red/gold depending on variety). Berry detaches from receptacle with gentle pull. If you have to tug, it's not ready.
How to harvest: Pick gently between thumb and forefinger. Berry should separate from white receptacle (which stays on plant). Harvest every 2-3 days.
Storing and preserving raspberry
How to keep it
- Freezing. Spread on trays, freeze, bag. Best preservation method. Keeps: 12 months.
- Jam. Simmer with sugar (1:1) and lemon juice. Brief boil to setting point. Jar hot. Raspberry jam is one of the best. Keeps: 12 months.
- Raspberry vinegar. Cover berries with white wine vinegar. Infuse 2 weeks. Strain, add sugar, simmer briefly. Bottle. Keeps: 12 months.
- Coulis/sauce. Puree berries, strain seeds if desired, add sugar. Freeze in portions. Keeps: 6 months frozen.
What raspberry 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 Raspberry
When do you plant raspberry 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): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Raspberry in Cairns?
Not suitable. Too hot.
How do I know when Raspberry are ready to harvest?
Full colour (red/gold depending on variety). Berry detaches from receptacle with gentle pull. If you have to tug, it's not ready.
What grows well with Raspberry?
Good companion plants for Raspberry include: Marigold, Tansy.
Are raspberry salt tolerant?
No. Raspberry 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.