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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
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?
Reply or Post a new comment
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?
Reply or Post a new comment
28 Feb 09, Nev (Australia - temperate climate)
i would like to know how can i tell when my watermelon are ready to be picked ?
Reply or Post a new comment
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.)
Reply or Post a new comment
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...
Reply or Post a new comment
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
Reply or Post a new comment
29 Jan 09, amy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
when are they ready to be picked
Reply or Post a new comment
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 ?
Reply or Post a new comment
03 Jan 09, Sarina (Australia - temperate climate)
The fruit on my vine seems to have stopped growing- the biggest is about 20cmx4cm and its been this size for 4 weeks or more. The other vines have small fruit but also not really growing. Any hints?
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 151 - 160 of 171 comments
See comments for all plants

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.