Your comments and tips

15 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Rock melon weighed 4.55 kgs

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15 Jan 19, Grahame B (Australia - temperate climate)

Climate must be a big factor with water melons, Mike. We'll never get an overnight low of less than 24C in summer, and rarely get one under 18C in what we call winter, so I'm going to try growing them all year round. Evidently Darwin soils are very poor because nutrients get leached from them by the heavy rain during the wet season so I'm learning how to counter that. Having never been a gardener, the water melon experience has spurred me into action and today I'll be planting some papaya and guavas. I don't think the traditional favourites like plums and peaches can be grown up here but I'm looking into it. I do remember a particular plum from my childhood (50+ years ago!) called a greengage; they were green when ripe, and sweet. Has anyone on here ever grown them?

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16 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

They grow water melons here - Bundaberg - in the spring. Winter 10 to 24 degrees with some nights down to 3-4-5. Spring time it is warming to 16 to 30 and summer 20-24 to 30-34. Seedlings are started late winter and transplanted in Sept. They pick them from late Nov and can extend into Jan. We can buy them on the side of the road - 2 for $5 - weigh from 2-3 kgs to 8-10 kgs.

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27 Dec 18, Leon Brand (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

We are in Brisbane. Our watermelons start well but when the fruit gets to about rockmelon size the ends (opposite to the stem) starts to go back and soft. Our soil ph seems ok (about 6.8 with a Bunnings ph probe). I heard the problem may be a lack of calcium? Shall I work lime into the soil before trying again? Thanks in advance. By the way, beetroot is doing very well in the same area as the watermelon, and a few months ago we had a good egg plant crop in a nearby bed.

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05 Jan 19, Mike Logan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Try planting them earlier - late August.

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05 Jan 19, Mike Logan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Try some Epsom Salts - buy it in the supermarket or nursery.

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26 Dec 18, Gert Coetzer (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

Where can I buy Black Diamond Watermelon seed?

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20 Dec 18, Kams (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Hi there, I am here in Auckland and recently have shifted my watermelon plant to a 15 Litre Pot, one of the prime reason being our ground is full of roots and generally found it difficult in the past 2-3 years for other plants growing. Do you think it is ok to proceed in the pot and can connect vine to multiple stakes? Kindly advice. Thanks

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02 Jan 19, Mem (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Hi I grow watermelons and other melons in pots every year,it can certainly be done but the melons won't be as big.You will also need to take care that the soil doesn't dry out,but isn't soaked and to feed often.I add blood and bone,sheep pellets and worm castings to a mix of 50/50 compost and potting mix to the pot,use a curcubit feed once a week and a general liquid feed every 2 weeks.

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21 Dec 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Plenty of people might do it but I wouldn't grow such a big plant in a pot full stop, no matter how big the pot. The nutrient and watering required. Think about raised garden beds with something between the ground and the bottom of the bed like wood pallets. Pallets on the ground - then weed matting and shade cloth - then small stones maybe - then garden soil about 5-600mm deep. Probably quite expensive but is probably the best solution. Could start small and add to the size of the bed/s in future years. Otherwise stick to growing small plants in pots.

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