When to Plant Sweet Granadilla in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
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 Sweet Granadilla 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
- Apr to May
- Days to harvest
- about 104 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
Sweet granadilla is a vigorous evergreen climbing vine with heart-shaped leaves. It bears orange-skinned fruit with sweet, jelly-like pulp, and it needs a second compatible vine for good fruit set.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr ✓
- May ✓
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Sweet Granadilla in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich, fertile, organic-rich well-drained loam
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun to partial shade, at least 6 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 250-500cm apart, 300cm between rows
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Basil, Comfrey, Borage, Lemon Balm
Tropical Growing Tips for Sweet Granadilla
Key Challenges
- Fruit Fly: Larvae in developing fruit cause rot
- Fusarium Wilt: The plant wilts and the rhizome rots
- Root Rot: Plants collapse in waterlogged pots or beds
- Scale insects and sap suckers: Weakened growth and sticky honeydew
Pro Tips
- Apply a balanced organic fertiliser or well-rotted manure in spring, followed by high-potassium fertiliser during summer flowering and fruiting
- Apply a 7 to 10 cm layer of organic straw or bark mulch around the dripline, keeping it 10 cm clear of the main stem
- Train main climbing vines onto a sturdy fence, pergola, or heavy-duty trellis wire system to support dense foliage and heavy fruit
Pests and problems for Sweet Granadilla in Tropical
- Fusarium Wilt Choose grafted plants and well-drained soil. Watch
- Root Rot Plant on mounds in well-drained soil and avoid overwatering. Watch
- Fruit Fly Fruit Fly: Larvae in developing fruit cause rot Watch
- Scale insects and sap suckers Scale insects and sap suckers: Weakened growth and sticky honeydew Watch
Harvesting Sweet Granadilla
When ready: Fruit shell turns bright orange to yellow-orange with small pale speckles and sounds slightly hollow when tapped
How to harvest: Snip fruit stem with sharp secateurs leaving 2 to 3 cm of stem, or collect mature fruit as it drops naturally
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 Sweet Granadilla
When do you plant sweet granadilla in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to May
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Aug to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Aug to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Nov
Can you grow sweet granadilla all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to May. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Sweet Granadilla in Cairns?
Sweet granadilla comes from cool Andean highlands and dislikes lowland heat, so give it afternoon shade, mulch and plenty of water, and expect modest results.
What soil temperature do Sweet Granadilla need?
Sweet Granadilla germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 30°C.
How do I know when Sweet Granadilla are ready to harvest?
Fruit shell turns bright orange to yellow-orange with small pale speckles and sounds slightly hollow when tapped
What grows well with Sweet Granadilla?
Good companion plants for Sweet Granadilla include: Nasturtium, Basil, Comfrey, Borage, Lemon Balm.
Are sweet granadilla salt tolerant?
No. Sweet granadilla 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.