How to grow Honeydew Melon in Australia
Honeydew is the smooth-skinned melon with pale green, very sweet flesh. It grows like a rockmelon, as a sprawling summer vine that needs warm soil, full sun and steady water, but it takes a little longer and is harder to judge when ripe, because it does not come away from the vine on its own. Watch for the skin turning creamy.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Honeydew Melon
At a glance
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. |
Not to be confused with: Rockmelon, the netted, orange-fleshed melon that slips from the vine when ripe, and Watermelon.
Where to plant
Melons need a long, warm, sunny season and soil that drains well. They are hungry and thirsty plants, so dig in plenty of compost and some blood and bone before planting. On heavy clay, build mounds of compost-rich soil and plant into them. Honeydew needs a longer warm run than rockmelon, so sow early in the season where summers are short.
Ripening fruit tastes best in dry weather. Rain or heavy watering while the fruit ripens makes it split and taste watery.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: sow from September to January.
- Sydney: start seed indoors in late August, then sow or transplant from September to December once the soil passes about 18°C. Earlier is better.
- Melbourne: sow in October or November only. December sowings are unlikely to ripen before autumn frosts.
- Adelaide: sow under cover in September, or direct in October and November once the soil passes about 18°C. Long, hot summers ripen it well; water deeply, not often.
- Perth: sow from August to November, in pots in late August and direct once the soil passes about 20°C. Skip December and January sowings.
- Canberra: marginal. Sow in November after the last frost in the warmest spot, so fruit ripens before the April frosts.
- North Queensland and Darwin: sow in the dry season, April to August, so the fruit ripens without rain. Hobart: our calendar marks it as unsuitable outdoors.
How to plant
- Dig compost and blood and bone into the bed, or build mounds on heavy soil.
- Sow two or three seeds about 2 cm deep in each spot, about 90 cm to 1 m apart, once the soil is warm. In cooler areas start seed in pots indoors a few weeks earlier.
- Water in, then keep the soil just moist until seedlings appear.
- Thin to the strongest seedling at each spot.
- Mulch around the plants. Lay straw or a board under developing fruit to keep it off damp soil.
- To save space, train vines up a strong A-frame of mesh and support each fruit in a sling, such as an old stocking.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil consistently moist while the vines grow and the fruit swells. Test the soil with a finger: if it is dry, water; if it is wet, wait. Water the soil rather than the leaves, ideally with drip irrigation, to reduce leaf disease. Ease off watering as the fruit nears ripeness, which concentrates the sweetness and reduces splitting.
Feed with a liquid fertiliser every two or three weeks while the vines grow, switching to one higher in potassium once fruit sets.
Pruning and care through the year
- Melon flowers are pollinated by bees, so avoid sprays that harm them. Poor fruit set in cool or wet weather is often a pollination problem.
Harvesting
Honeydew does not slip from the vine when ripe, unlike rockmelon, so waiting for it to come away on its own means waiting too long. Judge ripeness by the rind, which changes from greenish white when immature to creamy yellow when mature, and often feels slightly waxy. The blossom end, opposite the stalk, gives slightly when pressed, and a ripe melon smells sweet. Cut the stalk with secateurs.
Keep whole ripe honeydew at room temperature for a few days, or in the fridge for a little longer. Once cut, cover and refrigerate it.
Varieties
- Earlidew
- Honey Orange
- Tam Dew
Companion planting
Melons sprawl widely, so they suit the edge of a summer bed or the ground under tall crops.
Good companions
- Corn Tall corn uses the space above while melon vines cover the ground below, shading out weeds.
- Nasturtium Flowers that bring in bees and other beneficial insects to the summer bed.
- Radish A fast crop sown between young melon plants and picked before the vines spread.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to honeydew melon.
- Potato Potatoes are dug from the same ground the vines need, and both are commonly kept in separate rotations.
Pests and diseases
Powdery mildew and fruit fly are the main problems with melons.
Pests to watch for
- Fruit fly Small puncture marks in ripening fruit, which then rots inside. Use exclusion bags or netting in fruit fly areas.
- Pumpkin beetle Orange beetles chewing holes in the leaves and flowers of young plants.
- Aphids Clusters of small insects under the leaves and on shoot tips, which curl.
Diseases to watch for
- Powdery mildew White, powdery patches on the leaves, mostly late in the season. Water the soil, not the leaves, and grow vines up a frame for air flow.
- Downy mildew Yellow, angular patches on the upper side of leaves with grey growth beneath, in humid weather.
Common questions
How do I know when a honeydew is ripe?
Honeydew does not slip off the vine like rockmelon. The rind turns from greenish white to creamy yellow and often feels slightly waxy, the blossom end gives a little when pressed, and it smells sweet. Cut it with secateurs.
Why did my honeydew split?
Usually from heavy rain or watering while the fruit is ripening. Water evenly while fruit swells, then ease off near ripeness. In the tropics, grow melons in the dry season.
When should I plant honeydew?
In spring once the soil is warm, about 18 to 20°C: from September in south east Queensland and Sydney, October in Melbourne and Adelaide, and November in Canberra. In the tropics, sow from April to August.
Why are my melon flowers not setting fruit?
Melons need bees to carry pollen from male to female flowers. Cool, wet weather or a lack of bees reduces fruit set. Avoid sprays that harm bees and plant flowers nearby to attract them.
Can I grow honeydew up a trellis?
Yes. Train the vines up a strong mesh frame and support each fruit in a sling, such as an old stocking, so the weight does not snap the stem. A frame also improves air flow and reduces mildew.
Why is my honeydew not sweet?
Usually it was picked too early, because honeydew does not slip from the vine when ripe, or it ripened in wet weather or with heavy watering. Wait for the creamy rind and sweet smell, and ease off watering near harvest.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: Mini melons; Gardening Australia: FAQs, watering melons; Wikipedia: Honeydew melon.