Growing Rockmelon, also Canteloupe

Cucumis melo : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                S S    
                  T T T
                  P P  

(Best months for growing Rockmelon in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed

September: Frost tender

  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 20°C and 32°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 40 - 60 cm apart
  • Harvest in 10-16 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Sweetcorn, Sunflowers
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
11 Jan 16, Chris Coughran (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Why are my rockmelons dying upon ripening?
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21 Dec 15, Tracey (Australia - arid climate)
I live in hot Queensland my yard is in sun most of the day how will growing a Rockmelon vine handle the sun
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17 Dec 15, Doug ridge (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Dad has a very healthy looking rockmelon in a raised bed...gave the vine two buckets yesterday of diluted power feed...the flowers now look brighter an there are a lot of them...but know sight of any fruit forming yet???also noticed today a few leaves with a greyish looking mould on some of the leaves...hasn't been a lot of sunlight the last couple of days! Dad has the vine held by a wire fence ...stopping his dog from jumping in there????
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10 Dec 15, San (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi All, I am looking for Indian long melon (Lauki) and bitter gourd seeds. Does anyone have them? I am happy to share the seeds I have with me. Thank you, San
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08 Oct 15, Azed (Australia - temperate climate)
will different rockmelon varieties cross pollinate if planted close to each other
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02 Oct 15, Maddy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, I have a big pile of dirt out the back of my house and lately a small melon type fruit has grown in it. Was wondering if there is a way to tell you what it is?
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06 Oct 15, Bob (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello, They are probably paddy melons
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17 Sep 15, Col Henssler (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
will rockmelon grow in Busselton W.A. Australia
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11 May 15, tony (Australia - temperate climate)
can you grow rockmelons in the cooler months
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01 Jul 15, Max nicholas (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Not unless you have a green house, rockmelons grow best in hot climates. The frost wouls also kill them even if they were fully grown.
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Showing 91 - 100 of 217 comments
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When the plant first starts sending out runners there is mainly male flowers. Then there will be female flowers, It takes a lot of visits from bees to pollinate and set the fruit. I hand pollinated pumpkin the other week and one female flower set fruit and the other didn't. The answer I have no idea. Pumpkins, cues melons are all in the same family. The pumpkin female flower only opens for about 6-9 hrs for one day. Probably melons cues zucchinis are the same. If you are in the sub-tropics you probably should have planted these 2 mths earlier. My rockies (I should have planted a month earlier) are about 5-10 days from start picking and some grubs are just destroying the leaves.

- Mike

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