Growing Rockmelon, also Canteloupe

Cucumis melo : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

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

(Best months for growing Rockmelon in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

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

26 Nov 12, Rich (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Just buy a rockmelon, scoop the seeds out, dry hem and plant them. I've got about 100 seedlings growing out of my compost now. I'm gonna let them grow
24 Sep 12, cathie (Australia - temperate climate)
i got mine at diggers in victoria. they are on line and they will post you what you want
26 Jan 12, Jenny Dutton (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We are growing rockmelons for the first time and ave quite a few on the vinewhich are not yet ripe (haven't browned off at the stem yet) but they are getting to a good size. One appeared to ripen first on the end then rotted. Any ideas on the problem?
29 Jan 12, Kate (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi! I have been growing rockmelons this year and I had 2 grow in Dec-Jan, and now at the end of Jan , I now have another 5-6 growing. Not sure why they didnt grow earlier on, but they are now growing, but I have had to manual pollinate as I havent had any bees this year flying around my flowers, so manually pollinating, but the problem for my plant is that I have mostly male flowers & hardly any female flowers and I have 5 plants. Very strange why I have sooo many male flowers. I was hoping to have a bumper crop this year of Rockies. Hope at the end of this year, it becomes a better crop for us! Do your rockies grow Round? I have round rockies, not oval as in like the store brought ones.
15 Nov 13, Denise (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm a bit late with this reply, but sometimes plants just produce a lot of male flowers before they start producing female flowers. The key is to have patience here, which can be hard ;) Hope you had a good crop!
18 Feb 12, sandra (Australia - arid climate)
I think if you have too many male flowers because you have planted too many plants too close together, and my rockies are round also!
28 Jan 12, (Australia - arid climate)
I had that happen with watermelon also. Plus I am growing Rockmelon for the first time. But so hard heaps of vine but only 1 fruit. So I am watching it and caring for it with so much love.
18 Feb 12, sandra (Australia - arid climate)
You may be caring for your plants too much, possibly too much fertilizer, they don't mind a bit of neglect!
25 Jan 12, Jan (Australia - temperate climate)
Our rockmelon vine is prolific with plenty of Vine & the fruit almost growing on top of each other. Does the fruit need sun exposure or just the vine? The vine is covering all the fruit will they ripen that way? Thanks Jan
03 Feb 12, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have found sometimes the intence heat of the North West W.A. effects the flower set. Try March to September. Had the same trouble with watermellons too.
Showing 161 - 170 of 217 comments

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