What Fruit And Vegetables To Grow In Queensland Australia

Growing Vegetables in certain climates comes with its own challenges and Queensland Australia is no different. With a little know how and choosing the right varieties you can grow your very own vegetables in this climate easily. We will look at the climate / varieties and a few tips to help you get the most yield from your crops.

So before we look at the vegetables lets look at the climate of Queensland.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average Temperature (Celsius)	31	29	30	29	25	26	24	26	28	31	30	31
Rainfall (mm average)	159	158	140	92	73	67	58	45	45	75	97	113

The most common soil type is dark clay soil. Make the most of composting and due to the very dry seasons mulch the vegetable plants.

Queensland generally offers a combination of subtropical and tropical regions. Most parts offer a sub-tropical, humid climate, which means gardeners have bundles of options when choosing fruits and vegetables for their edible garden. 

Understand the climate of the region you live in before choosing which plants to grow and when to plant them. It’s necessary to do some homework before panting an edible garden since not every plant variety will suit your local climate. After going through all the trouble of planting your favorite edibles, it can be heartbreaking to watch the plants go into stress from being planted in the wrong place or at the wrong time. 

So what fruit and vegetables to grow in Queensland for the best harvests? Here’s a post to give you some ideas.

North Queensland (Tropical)

North Queensland is usually warm throughout most of the year. It doesn’t get any frost, and the lowest average annual temperature is 59°F. It offers distinguishing wet and dry climates. The wet, humid and hot climate, around January, is the best time to prepare your garden before planting. Amend the soil with plenty of compost so it can have a few months to decompose and enrich the soil with nutrients before the planting season. 

Vegetables And Herbs

From April onwards, you can start planting most vegetables, including herbs, radishes, zucchini, capsicum, cucumbers, corn, and tomatoes. July is the prime month for most vegetables when you can grow all kinds of cool-season and warm-season vegetables in North Queensland. 

Here’s a list of herbs that grow best in North Queensland:

1. Basil
2. Coriander
3. Tarragon
4. Mint
5. lemongrass

Here are some common vegetables that will thrive in North Queensland:

1. Zucchini
2. Capsicum
3. Tomato
4. Carrot
5. Eggplant
6. Cauliflower
7. Pumpkin
8. Spring onion
9. Chinese cabbage
10. Radish
11. Beetroot
12. Celery
13. Artichoke
14. Lettuce
15. Sweet potato
16. Cucumber
17. Spinach
18. Choko

Fruits 

The best time to plant fruit trees is in Autumn since there isn’t a risk of winter damage in the hot climate of North Queensland, and the soil is still moist from the preceding wet summers. Avoid planting fruits when the weather is hot and dry. Here are some common varieties that will thrive in North Queensland:

1. Rock melon
2. Watermelon
3. Mangosteen
4. Jackfruit
5. Durian
6. Guava
7. Rambutan
8. Pawpaw

South East Queensland (Sub Tropical)

The subtropical climate of South East Queensland makes it perfect for gardening. The humidity levels are high from November to March. There’s sufficient rainfall in summers and rarely any frost in winters. The lowest average annual temperature is 50°F. Overall, plenty of fruits and vegetables will grow fast in this region. 

Vegetables And Herbs

Cool-season vegetables are best grown in the winters and early spring in South East Queensland. If they’re planted late, there are chances that they’ll go to seed as the weather warms up in spring. By November, you should start planting the tropical vegetables since they’ll thrive in the wet season ahead. South East Queensland’s mild climate is especially favorable for growing tubers, particularly sweet potato, Queensland arrowroot, and cassava. 

Here Are Some Of The Best Herbs To Grow In South East Queensland

1. Basil
2. Fennel
3. Coriander
4. Tarragon
5. Parsley
6. Mint
7. Chives
8. Lemongrass
9. Gotu kola
10. Winter savory

Here Are Some Vegetables That Will Thrive In The Subtropical Climate Of South East Queensland

1. Artichokes
2. Beans
3. Capsicum
4. Eggplant
5. Cucumber
6. Tomato
7. Yacon
8. Jicama
9. Cassava
10. Queensland arrowroot
11. Rosella
12. Silver beet
13. Sweet corn
14. Spring onion
15. Sweet potato

Fruits

The mild climate of South East Queensland is perfect for many fruit and nut trees. Frosts are rare, so you can plant them during most of the year, though autumn is the best season for planting young trees. 

Here Are Some Fruits Perfect For Gardens In South East Queensland:

1. Citrus trees (lemons, oranges, mandarins, limes, and pomelo)
2. Jaboticaba
3. Peanut Butter Fruit
4. Pawpaw
5. Banana
6. Macadamia
7. Dragonfruit
8. Fig
9. Grumichama
10. Black Sapote
11. Bowen Mango
12. Surinam Cherry
13. Acerola Cherry
14. Apples (Golden Dorsett, Tropical Sweet, Tropical Anna)

Inland Queensland (Warm Temperate)

Inland Queensland is a warm, temperate region, but winters are generally cooler than in the coastal regions of the state. You can also expect some light frost here. The lowest average annual temperature is 41°F, and there’s reasonable rainfall throughout the year, apart from the dry summers. Though frost offers problems to gardeners, it also brings in some benefits. It enhances the flavors of certain cool-season vegetables, like carrots, broccoli, and kale. 

Additionally, since inland Queensland gets 4 distinct seasons, certain vegetables and fruits can benefit from the winter dormancy period. For example, garlic bulbs develop better after experiencing a cold period. 

Vegetables and Herbs

Inland Queensland offers a good climate for many cool-season vegetables. Warm-season vegetables will also grow well in the region. Remember to keep the plants well-watered, especially if the weather is hot and dry. Gardeners generally avoid summers for planting vegetables because of the dry weather. Wait until March, when the weather is milder, to plant most herbs and vegetables.  

Here Are Some Herbs That Will Grow Well In Inland Queensland

1. Basil
2. Parsley
3. Oregano
4. Mustard greens
5. Chives

Here Are Some Of The Best Vegetables To Grow In Inland Queensland

1. Asparagus
2. Beetroot
3. Artichokes
4. Garlic
5. Carrot
6. Cucumber
7. Eggplant
8. Kohlrabi
9. Silver beet
10. Rosella
11. Sweetcorn
12. Turnip
13. Zucchini
14. Lettuce

Fruits

Most tropical and subtropical fruit trees will do successfully when grown a considerable distance inland. Light frost in winters, non-existent in the coastal regions, reduces the number of pests, like fruit flies, in inland Queensland, ensuring healthier harvests. 

Here’s a list of fruit trees to grow in inland Queensland:

• Passion Fruit
• Mango (in regions free from frost)
• Custard Apple
• Citrus fruits
• Grapes
• Peach

Conclusion

So now you know what fruit and vegetables to grow in Queensland. Overall, the climate is perfect for a good variety of edibles during most of the year. As long as you plant at the right time, you can grow most kinds of cool-season vegetables and warm-season vegetables. Several tropical and subtropical fruits will also thrive in though most of Queensland.