When to Plant Cherry 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 Cherry 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
- Jun to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- neutral (SGA)
Cherry is a deciduous tree that wants cold winters and a cooler, less humid climate. Most sweet cherries need 700 to 1400 chill hours, but a few low chill types fruit from November in warm areas.
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 P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Royal Crimson, Trixzie Black Cherree and Lapins are listed for warm temperate and cool subtropical areas. Royal Lee needs 200 to 400 hours. Plant bare root in winter.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Cherry in Warm Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Deep, well draining soil rich in organic matter, neutral pH (SGA).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- neutral (SGA)
- Sunlight
- Full sun (SGA).
- Good companions
- Chives, Dill, Borage, Thyme, Calendula
- Keep away from
- Fennel, Mint, Sunflower, Sweet Corn
Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Cherry
Recommended Varieties
- Minnie Royal, Royal Lee, Royal Crimson, Pretty Gully (low chill, Daleys)
- Lapins, Stella, Sunburst, Starkrimson (self fertile)
- Black Boy, Trixzie White Cherree (cool climates)
Key Challenges
- Chill hours
- Birds
Pro Tips
- Royal Crimson or Lapins
- Plant bare root in winter
Pests and problems for Cherry in Warm Temperate
Harvesting Cherry
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 Cherry
When do you plant cherry 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): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Cherry in Sydney?
Royal Crimson, Trixzie Black Cherree and Lapins are listed for warm temperate and cool subtropical areas. Royal Lee needs 200 to 400 hours. Plant bare root in winter.
What are the best Cherry varieties for Sydney?
Recommended varieties for the Warm Temperate zone include: Minnie Royal, Royal Lee, Royal Crimson, Pretty Gully (low chill, Daleys), Lapins, Stella, Sunburst, Starkrimson (self fertile), Black Boy, Trixzie White Cherree (cool climates).
What grows well with Cherry?
Good companion plants for Cherry include: Chives, Dill, Borage, Thyme, Calendula.
Are cherry salt tolerant?
No. Cherry 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.