When to Plant Mandarin 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 Mandarin 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
- Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Shop price
- $4.13/kg
Easy-peel citrus that's extremely popular in Australian home gardens. Huge variety range from early to late season, covering harvest from April to November. Imperial is the classic Australian variety.
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 P
- Apr P
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant in spring after frost or in early autumn. Imperial ripens from May, and later types such as Ellendale and Kara carry on to about October.
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How to Grow Mandarin in Warm Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic. Reasonable tolerance of various soils.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun. 6+ hours direct.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Basil, Garlic, Marigold, Comfrey
- Keep away from
- Grass to trunk
Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Mandarin
Recommended Varieties
- Imperial
- Satsuma (Silverhill, most cold-tolerant mandarin)
- Emperor
- Murcott
Key Challenges
- Citrus gall wasp severe
- Fruit fly
- Some frost risk on flowers
Pro Tips
- Excellent mandarin zone. Sydney produces outstanding sweet mandarins.
- Satsuma is the most cold-tolerant. Ideal for cooler positions.
- Fruit sweetens on tree through winter, don't rush harvest.
Pests and problems for Mandarin in Warm Temperate
Harvesting Mandarin
When ready: Full colour development (orange). Easy peel test, skin separates easily. Taste test is definitive. Sweeter the longer left on tree (within reason).
How to harvest: Cut with secateurs leaving short stub, or twist-pull gently.
Storing and preserving mandarin
How to keep it
- Juice freezing. Juice and freeze in ice cube trays. Keeps: 12 months.
- Dehydrated slices. Slice 3-4mm, dehydrate at 55°C for 10-12 hours. Keeps: 12 months.
- Segments in syrup. Peel, segment, remove pith. Pack in light sugar syrup in sterilised jars. Water bath 15 minutes. Keeps: 12 months.
- Marmalade. Slice whole fruit, soak overnight, cook with sugar to setting point. Keeps: 12 months.
What mandarin costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
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- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Mandarin
When do you plant mandarin in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Oct to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Oct to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Apr to May, Sep to Nov
When should I plant Mandarin in Sydney?
Plant in spring after frost or in early autumn. Imperial ripens from May, and later types such as Ellendale and Kara carry on to about October.
How do I know when Mandarin are ready to harvest?
Full colour development (orange). Easy peel test, skin separates easily. Taste test is definitive. Sweeter the longer left on tree (within reason).
What are the best Mandarin varieties for Sydney?
Recommended varieties for the Warm Temperate zone include: Imperial, Satsuma (Silverhill, most cold-tolerant mandarin), Emperor, Murcott.
What grows well with Mandarin?
Good companion plants for Mandarin include: Nasturtium, Basil, Garlic, Marigold, Comfrey.
Are mandarin salt tolerant?
No. Mandarin 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.