When to Plant Soursop 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 Soursop 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
Soursop, also called guanabana or graviola, is a tropical custard apple relative with big spiny fruit.
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
Grows vigorously in the tropics. Diny fruits February through July. Planting months are our estimate for a nursery tree: plant in the warm, wet months so the roots settle before any dry or cool weather.
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How to Grow Soursop in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep, well drained, semi dry soil (Daleys). Morton says it tolerates acid, sandy and limestone soils but grows best in deep rich soil. Mulch because the roots are shallow (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 (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Cold windy spots (Daleys), Frost pockets (Daleys)
Tropical Growing Tips for Soursop
Recommended Varieties
- Diny (grafted, Sunshine Coast selection)
- Kyogle (grafted from a frost free Kyogle tree)
- Golden (needs summer water)
- Giant
Key Challenges
- Fruit fly
- Mealybugs on fruit
Pro Tips
- Plant in the wet season
- Mulch the shallow roots
Pests and problems for Soursop in Tropical
Harvesting Soursop
When ready: Full size, still firm, slightly yellow green; ripe when the flesh yields to light thumb pressure and the spines break off easily (Morton).
How to harvest: Clip firm fruit and ripen indoors. Peak quality is 5 to 6 days after harvest (Morton).
Storing and preserving soursop
How to keep it
- freezing. Scoop the pulp, remove all seeds, press through a sieve, freeze in portions. Sugar is optional (NCHFP). Keeps: Up to 12 months in a sealed container (NCHFP general guidance).
- jams_sauces. Deseeded pulp goes into drinks, desserts and ice cream (Morton). Keeps: Fridge, days; use a tested recipe for anything shelf stable.
- fresh_storage. Pick firm and slightly yellow green; ripe when it yields to thumb pressure (Morton). Keeps: Ripen at room temperature a few days, then 2 to 3 days in the fridge (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 Soursop
When do you plant soursop 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): Jan to Feb, Oct to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Nov to Dec
- 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 Soursop in Cairns?
Grows vigorously in the tropics. Diny fruits February through July. Planting months are our estimate for a nursery tree: plant in the warm, wet months so the roots settle before any dry or cool weather.
How do I know when Soursop are ready to harvest?
Full size, still firm, slightly yellow green; ripe when the flesh yields to light thumb pressure and the spines break off easily (Morton).
What are the best Soursop varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Diny (grafted, Sunshine Coast selection), Kyogle (grafted from a frost free Kyogle tree), Golden (needs summer water), Giant.
Are soursop salt tolerant?
No. Soursop 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.