How to grow Soursop in Australia
A tender tropical for the wet tropics and warm frost-free far north. Needs humidity, warmth and shelter.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 18 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 400 cm
- Time to harvest: 1095 days (about 3 years)
- Time to germinate: 30 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 6.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | October to December | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | October to December | Coastal gardens only. A tender tropical that hinterland and Lismore basin frosts will kill, so plant in a warm, sheltered, frost free spot. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | Not suited | Not viable in Sydney. Needs true tropical warmth and humidity. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | Not suited | Not viable in Melbourne. True tropical only. |
| Adelaide & SA | Not suited | Not viable in Adelaide. True tropical only. |
| Perth & WA | Not suited | Not viable in Perth. True tropical only. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. True tropical only. Not viable in Tasmania. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Not viable. True tropical only. |
| North Queensland | November to March | Plant Nov to Mar in the wet. The humid Wet Tropics around Cairns suit soursop best; shelter it from strong wind. |
| Darwin & Top End | November to March | Plant Nov to Mar in the wet. Needs shelter from wind and regular water through the dry season. |
Harvest and storage
Storage
Ripen off the tree, then fridge a couple of days.