Growing Watermelon

Cucurbitaceae c. lanatus : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

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

(Best months for growing Watermelon in USA - Zone 5a 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 70°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 24 - 30 inches apart
  • Harvest in 12-17 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Sweetcorn, Sunflowers
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

14 Mar 10, neil fardell (Australia - tropical climate)
i have just picked a watermelon which was planted in october, the nearest leaf had died and it sounds hollow. however upon cutting it open i have found it to be yellow. it still tastes okay but is it ripe or over ripe? i've got two others that fit the bill of being ready but now i'm not sure. should i wait longer? they formed about a week or two after the one i just picked. also the first one i picked about a month ago had split and was mouldy inside when i cut it open....... confused.
18 Dec 10, stu (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
my father grew a variety of watermelon that was yellow fleshed when ripe he called them "champagne" mellons.
04 Mar 10, dene (Australia - temperate climate)
hi i dont the variety of hand but my watermellons are growing well to about football size but are splitting very badly. does anyone know why? they are on retic getting water every morning.
24 Feb 10, lisa rias (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
HI MY WATER MELONS ARE GROWING EVERYWHERE BUT THEY HAVENT PRODUCED ANY FRUIT ONLY SMALL ONES WHICH DIE. DO THEY NEED MORE WATER?
08 Jan 11, Robin (Australia - arid climate)
YES A BIG YES this comes from a grower once they start to set fruit they need water
23 Feb 10, susan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
our plants are growing everywhere but now some leaves have gone lighter in colour. What does this mean?
20 Feb 10, Jo (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I am growing a variety of watermelon called "red rocket". These are supposed to be, according to the tag, large oblong-shaped with a high yield, however, the only 2 fruit I have growing are just the size of small rockmelons and appear to have stopped growing. The oldest of these 2 is about 5 weeks now. Are my expectations of what is called large fruit and high yield too high, or do I need to do something to help them along. I have recently used Dynamic Lifter For Fruit and Citrus in the patch but am unsure if this will help. The other problem is that, although the plant is very vigorous and has plenty of flowers, it doesn't seem to fruit, even though I've used the brush trick to help pollinate. The only thing I can think of is that it doesn't get a lot of sun, but if this was the problem would that not also affect the quantity of flowers and health of the vine?
26 Sep 20, gordon lee (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
hello, last year 2019 i grew red rocket melons, i got melons up to 17 kg, grew in part shade up to full sun, they simply need full sun and heat, even under 30% shade cloth no good, heaps of flowers and melons, plus grow other plants that give you more flowers for pollination and bees, even ants will pollinate, happy growing
03 Feb 10, Natalie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
When going seedless watermelon, you do need also a female variety such as sugar baby.I do have both variety and are growing well
02 Feb 10, Jungle Jack (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Our watermelons get to the size of rockmelons then go yellow and get no bigger, what's the problem? How many should we have on the one vine please? JJ
Showing 131 - 140 of 171 comments

Difference between red and yellow - yellow is sweeter and red has heaps of antioxidants - yellow has little or none. Melons are grown in the spring - in sub tropical and temperate you would be picking them now to mid Jan. You can also grow them late summer into autumn - don't taste as good I reckon. The skin can be used for pickling and relish. If you really need whatever is in the yellow you may need to source it from somewhere else as you would only have melons for a few months of the year. Read up about growing them.

- Mike

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.