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 Feb 24, Rob Taege (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
After last year's disappointment of being so wet, this year has had lots of sun hours with intermittent rain. However, a few weeks ago I noticed two watermelon fruits had their skin punctured. I just chucked on them today and now half of my fruit has punctured holes in them. I have a few pukekos in the paddock that come over and pick my unripe tomatoes from the plants. Would they peck at watermelon fruit as well? If not, what other animal or bird would do this and how do I stop them? I'm 100% sure it isn't rats as the holes are punctured not gnawed, Any suggestions, please before I lose my whole crop.
04 Oct 23, Anonymous (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
hi, trying to find seeds for the watermelon known as All Sweet Watermelon.
07 Oct 23, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You may have to buy from Australia - or try google in NZ
13 Jun 22, Fifita Filipe (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Will the seed collected from hybrid watermelon can be ok to grow in our garden???
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
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.
15 Jun 22, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Seeds saved from hybrids don't usually grow true.
06 Jan 22, Jen (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can I grow watermelons in Christchurch or is it too cold
11 Jan 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Yes look in the planting calendar guide. It is generally a Spring planting crop.
21 Aug 21, ravindra govind (New Zealand - temperate climate)
hi is it possible to grow melons in wellington
Showing 1 - 10 of 44 comments

I have a watermelon growing and setting teeny baby fruit but they all wither and drop off within a week of setting. Any ideas?

- Phoebe

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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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