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
                    P P

(Best months for growing Watermelon in New Zealand - cool/mountain 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
  • Mature watermelon
  • Melon flower
  • Watermelon

Large, round or oval, smooth green skinned, delicious, sweet pink fleshed melon.

Some have stripes on the skin.

Some varieties will produce fruit up to 14 kg (31 US pounds).

Harvest when the part in contact with the ground is turning yellow and the fruit sounds hollow when tapped.

Watermelon needs plenty of room to grow as it sends out long vines

Needs a long warm season to mature.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Watermelon

Cut up and eat in slices.
Use to make fruit drinks.
Use in fruit salads.

Your comments and tips

10 Mar 08, Matt Rieck (Unknown climate)
I planted some watermelon seeds about 6 months age and they are still not ripe. Green inside. They are still attached to the vine and the attachment is still green. The bottom is a pale slightly yellow. The crop has yielded around 100 melons and a mediun sized one weights 14 kgs. I have no option but to leave them growing till the vine falls off. Is this a good solution Regards Matt
14 Nov 08, Rosie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi I live just south of Perth and have planted organic watermelon seeds, the seedlings seem to be taking a lonnnnggg time to get bigger. They are planted on mounds and i have improved the soil (read sand) but am thinking maybe i did not improve it enough?? I am a newby having just turned into a garden nut, any help would be appreciated. Thanks
16 Nov 08, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Matt, a combination of things indicate when the melons are ripe: The light green tendrils on the stem near the point of attachment of the melon turn brown and dry, the skin of the fruit turns dull, the skin becomes hard to penetrate with a thumbnail and feels rough, and the bottom of the melon (where it lies on the soil) turns from light green to yellowish.
16 Nov 08, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Rosie, maybe your nights aren't warm enough yet? They grow best with days 20-35C and night temperatures over 18C.
20 Nov 08, Rosie (Australia - temperate climate)
Ahhhh!!! Thanks Chris - the temps are still a little low at night..
27 Nov 08, Emma (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted some seeds over 3 months ago (not having done any research before) in my small vegie avery and a week ago the seedlings have poped up so I gather its because our temps are between 27 and 35 here most days. The seedlings are all in one area someone has told me to seperate them but when I did that last time with pumpkin seedlings almost all died even though I did it with care. If I leave them where they currently are will they survive and poduce fruit? or should I risk it and move them?
29 Nov 08, Rosie (Australia - temperate climate)
Emma - mine also took a lonnng time to pop up and then just sat as little seedlings for what seemed like forever - they are now starting to take off. I have three plants that are on the same mound and they are looking good.
06 Dec 08, JC (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
How fun is growing your own fruit and veg?!?!??! I am wishing to find out how to contain a watermelon patch? They are spreading like wildfire and would like to know how to prune without risking the plant? THANKS!
08 Dec 08, Soheil Taheri (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Will you please tell me how to identify wild watermelon vines from planted seeds before waiting for the vine to produce fruit and mature. For instance, is there a distinct difference between the leaves? Thank you, Soheil Taheri.
09 Dec 08, bern (Australia - temperate climate)
my watermelon vine is growing well, although i don't have a lot of fruit. How can I increase the produce?
Showing 1 - 10 of 336 comments

If you pick a watermelon early and its greenish, is there any way to ripen it up without throwing out to the chickens

- Cherry

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