When to Plant Cherimoya in Sydney, Warm Temperate Guide
What this month normally looks like in Warm Temperate
In October the Warm Temperate zone normally runs 24°C by day and 13°C overnight, with about 66 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -1.5°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 153 postcodes, SILO.
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This Cherimoya guide is written for the Warm Temperate zone, which takes in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Nov
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7.6
Cherimoya is the cold hardy custard apple, a briefly deciduous tree of 6 to 8 m, or 2 to 5 m pruned, suited to subtropical and warm temperate gardens (Daleys).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Warm Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Daleys lists it for warm temperate gardens and says it can handle frosts, and a Waterfall NSW review has it flowering in spring. Harvest April to August. Planting months are our estimate: spring after the last frost. Young trees survive minus 3 degrees, a few degrees colder kills (Morton).
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How to Grow Cherimoya in Warm Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Free draining sand or sandy loam (Daleys). Root rot in clay (Morton).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.5-7.6
- Sunlight
- Full sun; protect young trees from hot windy sites (Daleys).
- Keep away from
- Heavy clay (Morton), Strong wind (Morton), Pond apple rootstock (NSW WeedWise)
Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Cherimoya
Recommended Varieties
- Fina de Jete (Daleys)
- Rosa, can handle frosts (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Frost on young trees
- Hot windy sites (Daleys)
Pro Tips
- Shelter from wind
- Hand pollinate
Pests and problems for Cherimoya in Warm Temperate
Harvesting Cherimoya
When ready: Pick while firm when the skin shows a yellow green tinge (Morton).
How to harvest: Clip with a short stem and ripen at room temperature for 3 to 4 days (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 Cherimoya
When do you plant cherimoya in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Cherimoya in Sydney?
Daleys lists it for warm temperate gardens and says it can handle frosts, and a Waterfall NSW review has it flowering in spring. Harvest April to August. Planting months are our estimate: spring after the last frost. Young trees survive minus 3 degrees, a few degrees colder kills (Morton).
How do I know when Cherimoya are ready to harvest?
Pick while firm when the skin shows a yellow green tinge (Morton).
What are the best Cherimoya varieties for Sydney?
Recommended varieties for the Warm Temperate zone include: Fina de Jete (Daleys), Rosa, can handle frosts (Daleys).
Are cherimoya salt tolerant?
No. Cherimoya 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 Warm Temperate zone, Sydney is its reference city.