How to grow Quandong in Australia
A native that wants full sun and very sharp drainage in sandy, lean soil. It is a partial root parasite, so plant it near a tough host plant such as a wattle to help it establish.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 3 litres a week, watered every 7 days
- Spacing: 500 cm
- Time to harvest: 1460 days (about 4 years)
- Time to germinate: 30 days
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 8
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
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 | March to September | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October and November | Marginal. A semi arid native that resents cold wet soil. Plant Oct to Nov in the hottest, best drained spot beside a host plant such as a wattle. |
| Adelaide & SA | March to September | |
| Perth & WA | March to September | |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Semi-arid native needing warmth and a host plant. Cold wet winters kill it. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Not suited. Quandong is damaged below about minus 4 C and Canberra winters reach minus 8 C. Grow a hardy native such as mountain pepper instead. |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not suited. Desert quandong is an arid zone tree that fails in monsoon humidity and wet soil. Grow Kakadu plum instead. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not suited. Desert quandong is an arid zone tree that fails in monsoon humidity and wet soil. Grow Kakadu plum instead. |
Varieties
- Desert Quandong
Companion planting
Good companions
- Native plants
- Host tree (semi-parasitic)
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Ripe when the skin turns bright glossy red and the fruit comes away with a light tug. Pick by hand; the flesh can be eaten fresh or dried for later.
Storage
Dry well for long-term storage (12+ months). Fresh fruit fridge for 1 week.