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18 Nov 09 adam synnott (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Liv, yes rockmelons are from the curcurbit family, and need to be pollinated like a pumpkin of zucchini. They have male and female flowers, and I find it easier to pollinate by hand. The females have a small ball thingy on the base of the flower,(obviously, this is a small rockie, waiting to happen), and i take a male flower and press it into the flower of the female. The pollen is more potent when damp, so the early morning is a good time to do this. Often rockies have a small flower hidden under something, and I hand pollinate to make sure I get some rockies, otherwise, it's hit and miss. I'm in Armidale in NSW, and often the weather just isn't warm enough to ripen rockies and watermelon, but with a shadehouse or hothouse, I should get some this year. Good Luck.

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31 Oct 10 Ivan (Australia - temperate climate)

Sir I am from South Africa and thinking of planting watermelon in a shadehouse. Is there any spesific type you will recomment and do you take them off the ground like tomatoes with strings or leave them on the ground? Thanks Ivan van Zyl

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