Your comments and tips

13 Apr 09, Nathalie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I've been told that when the closest leaf dies the melon is ready to be picked. This is the same for all vine veggies and fruits. I have found that this 'rule' works

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06 Apr 09, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Remi, April is too late for melon and pumpkin in Melbourne. They need a long growing season (especially melon) and need starting in spring.

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05 Apr 09, Remi (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Hi, I live in Melbourne and it is early April and my family and I have started growing a vegie-patch and would like to know - is this the right time to start growing watermelon and pumkin?

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22 Mar 09, Jacki (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi It's March and my kids planted some seeds early this year. The vine has been taking over since late Jan and now we have a watermelon which i think is nearly ready to be picked. it's been growing rapidly for a month or so and the growth has slowed down this last week. We only have 1 melon on the vine - is this normal for sydney?

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28 Feb 09, Nev (Australia - temperate climate)

i would like to know how can i tell when my watermelon are ready to be picked ?

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22 Feb 09, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)

It should sound "dull" when tapped, but I always think sound is subjective. Look at the growing end where the stalk is and about 5cm away will be a tendril (curly growth). When it starts to wither it's close - wait till it dies .and then pick and enjoy. (In your area it still could be a couple of weeks away.)

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18 Feb 09, wendi (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I now again have two large watermelons growing i picked one about a month ago it was huge but it was pink inside why is this was it not ready.. do not want to make the same mistake with these ones. and yes it is taking over my vegie garden...

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30 Jan 09, Grahame (Australia - temperate climate)

Amy, When to pick watermelons is one of life's great mysteries, but there are a few tips to help you out...Tapping on a ripe watermelon give a heavier thud than unripe ones, watch out for a yellowing stem, a yellowing patch on the underside where it touches the soil and also the skin gets a more powdery look to it rather than it's normal glossy sheen. I picked a couple before I started to get it right. Another thing is to leave it then for another wekk after you have picked it so that it can finish ripening. good luck

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29 Jan 09, amy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

when are they ready to be picked

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11 Jan 09, mark (Australia - temperate climate)

I have a similar problem were the fruit has got to a certain size and then stopped growing ?

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