When to Plant Lime in Sydney, Warm Temperate Guide

Plant September to November. Right now in October you can plant.

Planting window
Limes are frost-sensitive, so plant in spring in the warmest sheltered spot. Tahitian limes are picked green from late summer into winter.
Sunlight
Full sun, protected from cold winds. Warmest position in garden.
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Shop price
$16.23/kg average

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Lime 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.

Lime

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The most frost-sensitive common citrus. Three main types grown in Australia: Tahitian (large seedless fruit, most popular), Key/Mexican (small, aromatic, very tender), and native Australian Finger Lime (unique caviar-like vesicles, increasingly popular). Tahitian is the practical choice for most home gardens. Finger lime is a genuinely Australian native with unique culinary properties. All limes prefer warmth and humidity.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Best Planting Window for Warm Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - P P P -

P = Planting window

Limes are frost-sensitive, so plant in spring in the warmest sheltered spot. Tahitian limes are picked green from late summer into winter.

Want a nudge when it is Lime sowing time in Sydney?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Warm Temperate zone right now, Lime included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

This month 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.

The full twelve months are on the Warm Temperate zone page.

How to Grow Lime in Warm Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Limes are frost-sensitive, so plant in spring in the warmest sheltered spot. Tahitian limes are picked green from late summer into winter.

Soil
Well-drained, rich in organic matter. Slightly acidic preferred.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun, protected from cold winds. Warmest position in garden.

Companion plants: Comfrey, Nasturtium

Avoid planting near: Cold exposed positions

Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Lime

Recommended Varieties

  • Tahitian (hardiest common lime)
  • Finger Lime (surprisingly cold-tolerant)
  • Kaffir/Makrut

Key Challenges

  • Most frost-sensitive common citrus
  • Key lime too tender for Sydney outdoor

Pro Tips

  • Tahitian lime in a sheltered north-facing spot succeeds in Sydney.
  • Finger lime is hardier than Tahitian. Tolerates brief frost to -2°C.
  • Pot culture allows winter protection if needed.

Harvesting Lime

When ready: Tahitian: pick when bright green and full-sized (turning yellow means over-ripe). Key lime: pick when pale green to yellow. Finger lime: pick when full-sized and slightly soft at ends.

How to harvest: Cut with secateurs. Handle gently.

Where to next

What lime costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the warm temperate zone this October: Lemongrass, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Cucumber.

The pest most likely to find your lime: Queensland Fruit Fly.

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $16.23/kg (12-month range: $6.90–$17.25)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

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Common Questions About Lime

When do you plant lime in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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.