Growing Watermelon

Cucurbitaceae c. lanatus : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

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

(Best months for growing Watermelon 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 21°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 60 - 75 cm apart
  • Harvest in 12-17 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Sweetcorn, Sunflowers
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

25 Jul 15, Ahmad (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Shaz Good to hear about your watermelons. I did the same thing last year. However, they grew upto a size of a tennis ball and then went yellow and died. This happened to atleast 5 to 6 watermelons. Then i gave up. Can you please advise me what different did you do different? Do watermelon plants require support (above from ground). My plants and melons were on the ground. Thanks Ahmad
24 Aug 15, Jacque Greenhalgh (Australia - tropical climate)
Hello Ahmad, I was reading through some questions when I came cross yours. I've been having this issue on and off for years now, involving cucumbers. They all are great healthy looking vines but what I have noticed is there is NO BEES! Cucumber, pumpkin, watermelons, mangoes, tomatoes and the list just goes on. What you will find is because on the lack of bees your flowers aren't getting pollinated you either need to invest in a few hives or start pollinating by hand. Try one vine by hand and let me know how you go
20 Mar 14, Kerry Porter (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
my Watermelon plant has just started bearing fruit. can the fruit get eaten by bugs or stung? what can i do to prevent this
29 Aug 14, Brendan (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Hi Kerry, I make fruit fly traps to catch most of them as they destroy my fruit. Cut the top of a coke bottle off and invert it back into the base section. Make a small hole in the cap so the fly enters but cannot leave. In the bottle, place a piece of banana and add "Apple Cider Vinegar" Do not cover the banana completely. Once the banana starts to ferment in the vinegar the smell attracts the flies. Good Luck....
23 Jan 16, Andre Lotz (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Thanks for the FF trap. I gave up on watermelons as EVERY fruit gets stung. We use a similat trap for mozzies! Andre
02 Feb 14, Thabo (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
What causes the watermelons to crack and open up?
19 Nov 19, anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Too much water.
02 Feb 14, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Irregular watering or lots of rain just as they ripen will make them split as they suck in a load of water after being dry for a while. Also temperature changes between cold at night and hot in the day - a straw mulch around the melons can help keep the temperatures even.
03 Jan 14, Gwen (Australia - tropical climate)
I am after seeds of a large round melon with a dark and lighter green skin. With dark yellow to orange flesh. We called them the Champagne Melon. My father grew these when we were very young. I haven't seen these in years only the pale yellow variety. Where would I be able to purchase seeds of these melons and maybe a photo to see if they are the ones. Thank you Gwen
26 Jul 14, Kerri (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Gwen, we were given Watermelon Champagne seeds as part of a gift of a whole bunch of different seeds for our new vege gardens from my sister in law. They were all from Eden Seeds, located in Qld - www.EdenSeeds.com.au and they are non hybrid, old traditional, open pollinated varieties.
Showing 251 - 260 of 355 comments

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