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

Your comments and tips

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23 Nov 18, Joyce (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Do you have to have a male and female watermelon together for them to bear
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05 Jan 19, Petra (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Watermelon like all other melons, squash (incl. zucchinis) and pumpkins produce both male and female flowers. So only one is needed. However i always plant two or more in case one fizzles out.
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18 Nov 18, Lorraine Johnstone (Australia - temperate climate)
We have been advised to grow and eat yellow watermelons. This actually means blending the entire melon, skin, etc as well, and drink/eat. It's apparently very good for you. Plan to take out the pips and dry them. Has anyone done this, or can anyone please advise how to go about growing? I am awaiting receipt of the seeds. Thanks in advance.
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18 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
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.
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23 Oct 18, Debra (New Zealand - temperate climate)
wanting to grow melons this year, I am in North Canterbury any hints for success welcome, am I too late to sow seed ?
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25 Oct 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Have a go. Probably need plenty of water later. If not very successful, plant earlier next year - early Sept.
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22 Oct 18, Tracy smith (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have done watermelon seeds in September month & they have come up & r doing well so har. When is the best time to plant them in the ground they r about 1 inch high each I have 4 of them
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23 Oct 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
When they have produced a good root system. Wait until they have several leaves. Important to keep as much soil in contact with the roots as possible when planting out. Try and protect them from the sun for the first week. In future plant in a little pot like a 500 gm margarine container with a few holes in the bottom to let water drain out. When they are about 3-4 weeks old plant out. If no frosts you can plant directly into the soil.
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11 Oct 18, Jo (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Planted watermelon seeds late last summer,didnt grow. Now they are sprouting but stem red colour after second leaf. Is this normal?
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12 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Best tasting melons are grown in the spring here. I don't know about the red stem stuff. They will start picking them here in about a months time. I LOVE EM.
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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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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. GardenGrow 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.
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