How to grow Pomelo in Australia
The giant of the citrus family and a favourite in Asian cooking. Loves subtropical warmth (SEQ north).
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 20 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 500 cm
- Time to harvest: 730 days (about 2 years)
- Time to germinate: 1 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to September | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to September | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to November | Plant Sep to Nov in the warmest sheltered spot. Needs long hot summers; fruit is smaller and sharper than in the tropics. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | Not suited | Not viable. Too cold for this tender citrus, which needs long hot summers to fill its fruit. |
| Adelaide & SA | September and October | Marginal. Plant Sep to Oct after frost against a warm wall, and shelter young trees through winter. |
| Perth & WA | September to November | Plant Sep to Nov in a warm sheltered spot. Mulch the sandy soil heavily and water deeply through summer. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Needs long hot summers. Not viable in Tasmania. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Not viable. Hard frosts kill this tender citrus and the summer is too short to fill the fruit. |
| North Queensland | May to September | Plant May to Sep in the dry with regular watering. Pomelo loves tropical heat and crops well in the north. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to August | Plant May to Aug in the dry with regular watering. Pomelo loves Top End heat. |
Companion planting
Good companions
Harvest and storage
Storage
Keeps for weeks thanks to its thick skin.