When to Plant Pineapple 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 Pineapple 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
- Oct to Dec
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 4.5–5.5
A bromeliad, not a tree or even a bush. Grows as a rosette of spiky leaves at ground level and produces a single fruit on a central stalk.
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 -
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Only for the hottest frost-free spot, or a pot against a warm wall, with sharp drainage. Growth stalls in winter, so fruit takes 2 years or more.
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How to Grow Pineapple in Warm Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, sandy or sandy loam. Acidic. Pineapples CANNOT tolerate waterlogged soil. Root rot is rapid.
- Salt
- Moderately tolerant. Handles slightly salty water better than most veggies.
- pH Range
- 4.5-5.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun. Maximum heat. North-facing position in marginal zones.
- Good companions
- Coconut
- Keep away from
- Waterlogged areas
Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Pineapple
Recommended Varieties
- Queen
Key Challenges
- Very slow growth
- Frost risk
- May take 3+ years from crown to fruit
Pro Tips
- Marginal in Sydney. North-facing sunny position against a wall.
- Treat as a novelty rather than serious fruit production.
- Pots allow moving to shelter in winter.
Pests and problems for Pineapple in Warm Temperate
Harvesting Pineapple
When ready: Shell colour changes from green to yellow-gold (starting at base). Sweet aroma develops. Pull a central leaf. If it detaches easily, fruit is ready. Thump test. Sounds dull when ripe, hollow when unripe.
How to harvest: Cut stem below fruit with sharp knife. Can cut with attached slip for propagation.
Storing and preserving pineapple
How to keep it
- Freezing. Peel, core, chunk. Freeze on trays then bag. Keeps: 12 months.
- Dehydrating. Slice into rings or chunks. Dehydrate at 55°C for 12-16 hours. Keeps: 12 months.
- Canning in syrup. Pack chunks in light syrup. Water bath 20 minutes. Keeps: 12 months.
- Pineapple vinegar (tepache). Ferment peel and core with sugar and water for 3-5 days. Strain. Keeps: 2 weeks refrigerated.
What pineapple costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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 Pineapple
When do you plant pineapple in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Sep to Nov
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Mar, Nov to Dec
When should I plant Pineapple in Sydney?
Only for the hottest frost-free spot, or a pot against a warm wall, with sharp drainage. Growth stalls in winter, so fruit takes 2 years or more.
How do I know when Pineapple are ready to harvest?
Shell colour changes from green to yellow-gold (starting at base). Sweet aroma develops. Pull a central leaf. If it detaches easily, fruit is ready. Thump test. Sounds dull when ripe, hollow when unripe.
What are the best Pineapple varieties for Sydney?
Recommended varieties for the Warm Temperate zone include: Queen.
What grows well with Pineapple?
Good companion plants for Pineapple include: Coconut.
Are pineapple salt tolerant?
Fairly. Pineapple are moderately tolerant of salt and handle slightly salty water better than most veggies.
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.