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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18 Oct 22, Albert (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Plants only cross pollinate within their own species. Watermelon (citrullus lanatus) and Rockmelon (cucumis melo) will not cross. Bees can cross pollination and they can travel up to 2 km, this is the (?)
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29 Sep 22, (Australia - tropical climate)
Depends how close - 5-10m away would be OK. I wouldn't do 1-2m apart - cross pollination.
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26 Sep 22, Brodie O'Donnell (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Can I grow watermelons in Southland.?
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29 Sep 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go to watermelon - set climate zone to NZ - cool mountain. Check the calander planting guide. Now to the end of the year.
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08 Aug 22, Catherine E Villarreal (USA - Zone 10b climate)
When can I plant seedless watermelon seeds in zone 10b
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04 Sep 22, (USA - Zone 10b climate)
March or Aug Sept
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02 Aug 22, rhonda (USA - Zone 9a climate)
It is now the beginning of August 2022 and I was wondering if it is possible to grow watermelons from seed in grow zone 9a (Houston Texas) if I grow them in a giant pot and keep it in a shady area of my yard out of the extreme heat we are experiencxing now in Texas? I planted some seeds (direct seeded into the top of a compost pile I have in direct sunlight) they did germinate into very small seedling plants, but because the weather was hitting over 100 degrees they immediately died back. So I am attempting to grow some in a large pot and keeping them out of direct sunlight and seeing if they will continue growing, if so I will try to grow them vertically on a trellis. Has anyone else ever attempted such a experiment? If so, were they successful in getting a watermelon to grow out of season?
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13 Jun 22, Fifita Filipe (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Will the seed collected from hybrid watermelon can be ok to grow in our garden???
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24 Aug 22, Richard (New Zealand - temperate climate)
It will grow but will not be true to type. You don't know what you will get. Hybrids are produced by pollinating specific flowers with specific pollen. So when the hybrid grows fruit it is neither of these. It is a mix of both, just like our children. If we plant seeds from that fruit we have broken the hybrid chain. The result will be a lottery
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17 Jun 22, (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hybrid is a cross of different varieties - plant these seeds and the watermelons may be hybrid or like one of the crosses.
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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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