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

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26 Mar 14, Carolynne (Australia - tropical climate)
We put all our kitchen scraps in the garden and have very healthy rockmelon leaves coming up. Is it too early to plant them out?
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18 Mar 14, Sachin (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When is best time to cut rockmelon from plant
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28 Oct 14, Monica (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Did you know that rock melon ripens after it is harvested? mate u should harvest it when it starts showing the stripes or breaks...
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13 Mar 14, Marilynn chenhall (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can I cook rockmelon flowers the same way as zucchini flowers I got given some of each from the school vege patch
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10 Mar 14, john hallas (Australia - arid climate)
what do I feed them on, who sells it
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17 Feb 14, Geoff (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Where can I get some rock-melon seeds for Western beauty Large yellow fruit with orange spots when fully ripe, sweet and juicy?
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14 Feb 14, Taleatha.Mcfarlane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can you grow rockmelon seeds in a big patch of soil like other plants? Because I have to grow seeds at school I have my own patch of soil where plants have preversly grow in
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06 Feb 14, Phil (Australia - temperate climate)
My new garden is smothered by vines of self germinating rockmelons from the compost bin. Had a tree removed and then enriched the soil with compost for the tomatoes -they are now competing with the rockies. With the unusually hot summer here in Tumut plus some generous seasol they are going gangbusters. Pity my wife doesn't like them .. so our neighbours and I will enjoy them.
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24 Jan 14, My (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If I waited until it is ripe, ant/bird ate before I harvested it. I tried once to harvest before it is ripe, the melon tasted very plain, not sweet. So, how do I prevent bird or ants eat the rock melons before I harvest?
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29 Sep 14, Sammie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I find placing fake snakes and frogs in your garden help... just move it around the garden every now and then....
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Showing 121 - 130 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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