How to grow Honeydew Melon in Australia
The smooth-skinned melon, later and slightly fussier than a rockmelon. The thing to know: it does not slip from the vine when ripe, so waiting for it to come away by itself means waiting too long.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 25 litres a week, watered every 4 days
- Spacing: 90 cm
- Time to harvest: 100 days
- Time to germinate: 7 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to January | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to January | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to December | Start indoors late Aug; sow or transplant Sep to Dec once the soil passes 18°C. Needs a longer warm run than rockmelon, so earlier is better. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October and November | Sow Oct to Nov only. Needs a long warm season; December sowings are unlikely to ripen before the autumn frosts. |
| Adelaide & SA | September to November | Sow Sep undercover or Oct to Nov direct once soil passes 18C. Long hot summers ripen it well; water deeply, not often. |
| Perth & WA | August to November | Sow Aug to Nov, in pots in late Aug and direct once soil passes 20C. Drop the Dec to Jan sowings. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable outdoors. Cool summers cannot ripen melons reliably. Greenhouse only. |
| Canberra & ACT | November | Marginal. Sow in November once the last frost has passed, in the warmest spot, so fruit ripens before the April frosts. |
| North Queensland | April to August | Dry season Apr to Aug. Melons need rainless ripening; wet season fruit splits and tastes watery. |
| Darwin & Top End | April to August | Dry season Apr to Aug. Melons need rainless ripening; wet season fruit splits and tastes watery. |
Varieties
- Earlidew
- Honey Orange
- Tam Dew
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Storage
A week in the fridge cut, two weeks whole in a cool room.