When to Plant Tamarillo 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 Tamarillo 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
- Aug to Nov
- Days to harvest
- about 86 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 5.8–7.0
Tamarillo, the tree tomato, is a fast growing small tree that fruits from about 18 months and lives 2 to 5 years (Green Harvest).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Warm Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug S
- Sep S
- Oct T
- Nov T
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Tamarillo in Warm Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Rich, free draining; will not take wet feet (Green Harvest, Seed Collection).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 5.8-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun; partial shade in the tropics (Yates).
- Keep away from
- Beds that had wilt in tomatoes or potatoes (Seed Collection), Windy spots
Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Tamarillo
Recommended Varieties
- Red
- Gold
Key Challenges
- Frost when young
- Fruit fly
Pro Tips
- Sow indoors in late winter
- North facing site
Pests and problems for Tamarillo in Warm Temperate
Harvesting Tamarillo
When ready: Full red or gold colour and a slight give; fruit forms in autumn (Yates).
How to harvest: Twist or cut with a short stalk.
Storing and preserving tamarillo
How to keep it
- Freezing. Scald, peel, freeze halves or puree. Keeps: 8 to 12 months.
- Chutney or sauce. Tested recipe base, water bath for altitude (NCHFP). Keeps: 1 year.
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 Tamarillo
When do you plant tamarillo in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): all year
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Aug to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Aug to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Aug to Nov
Can you grow tamarillo all year round in Sydney?
No. In the Warm Temperate zone the planting months are Aug to Nov. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Tamarillo in Sydney?
Suits warm temperate areas (Green Harvest, Yates). Sow indoors in late winter, plant out in spring after frost (Seed Collection chart: temperate August to November). Frost tender, especially when young (Green Harvest). Fruit forms in autumn (Yates).
How do I know when Tamarillo are ready to harvest?
Full red or gold colour and a slight give; fruit forms in autumn (Yates).
What are the best Tamarillo varieties for Sydney?
Recommended varieties for the Warm Temperate zone include: Red, Gold.
Are tamarillo salt tolerant?
No. Tamarillo 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.