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            
      T T T T          
      P P P P          

(Best months for growing Watermelon in Australia - 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

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15 Nov 12, Geoff (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi James.. Watermelons are self pollinating, so only one plant is needed, unless you are growing seedless melons which require a pollinator.
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29 Sep 12, michael (Australia - tropical climate)
why in my garden the watermelons are not growing ????please anwser back thank you
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08 Sep 12, Rod (Australia - temperate climate)
what is compatibale to grow with watermelon?
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12 Sep 12, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Not 100% sure of watermelon but pumpkin, squash and cucumber like sweet corn. All the best.
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12 Jun 12, Elmer Patiag (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi, Just want to ask where can I buy watermelon seed?
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14 Oct 12, Chantelle (Australia - temperate climate)
Watermelon seeds can be bought at most nurseries,a hardware giant eg. Bunnings (where I got mine and are good with seeds) a good 2 dollar shop, a hardware store, or a discount superstore eg. Kmart, target. hope this helps
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06 Mar 12, Raelene (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi my friend has a watermelon plant that has gone berserk vine-ing everywhere. Only thing there are lots of flowers and bees have been seen to hover over them but no fruit as yet. How can we tell which are male / female flowers? I can't find any "bulbing" as in female pumpkin flowers but when I touch the middle of the flowers no pollen comes away so I don't think that's the male...
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11 Jan 12, Scott (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, I live on a farm near Port Macquarie NSW North Coast and thinking of planting some Garlic beds.I have just started and really enjoying some success.When do you recommend I start planting Garlic
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21 Jan 12, Bec (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Plant on the shortest day of the year (june) harvest on the longest day (dec). Works every year.
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08 Jan 12, julie (Australia - arid climate)
can anybody please explain why would watermelon plants would be pale in appearance. They have been watered frequently and fed every 4-6 weeks. Regards Julie
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Showing 101 - 110 of 173 comments
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Water melons must have been invented for rank amateurs. I live in Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT and have zero gardening experience, but decided to plant some water melon seeds (in pots) at the end of October - build up time to our summer wet season. They germinated fast so out into the garden they went with a lot less ground preparation than there could have been. They grew, started producing flowers (male only for quite some time) so I kept watering them with the odd bit of general purpose soluble plant food. I haven't seen any diseases so they haven't been sprayed - apart from the termite man's overspray with he did my house's annual ant and spider treatment. Then, in early December, growth went up a few notches; I could see how far a vine had grown in a day. They started taking over the garden. Flowers appeared everywhere, as did tiny native bees to attend to pollination. Every few days a small watermelon appeared and quickly got bigger. At that point I sought some advice from a local garden shop on what I should be doing; they told me to keep watering and sold me some organic fertilizer pellets to feed them with. Now they've taken over the garden, have started climbing fences and keep on producing new melons. I'd never have imagined it could be that easy.

- Grahame B

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