How to grow Rockmelon in Australia
Needs full sun, warmth and rich, well drained soil. Plant on a mound and water deeply at the base, keeping leaves dry to limit mildew.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 10 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 100 cm
- Time to harvest: 85 days
- Time to germinate: 8 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; transplant Sept+ when soil warms to 18 to 20°C. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October and November | Sow Oct to Nov only. Needs long warm season; Dec sowing unlikely to mature before frost. Narrower window than SEQ. |
| Adelaide & SA | September to November | Sow Sep undercover or Oct to Nov direct once soil passes 18C. Adelaide heat ripens sweet melons; water deeply, not often. |
| Perth & WA | August to November | Sow Aug to Nov, pots in late Aug, direct once soil passes 20C. One of the few crops that takes a November sowing; drop the Dec to Jan tail. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable outdoors. Cool summers cannot ripen melons reliably. Greenhouse only. |
| Canberra & ACT | November | Sow in November once the last frost has passed. Marginal; choose early varieties and the warmest spot. |
| North Queensland | April to August | Dry season Apr to Aug, the same winter cropping as Bowen commercial melons. Wet season fruit splits and loses sweetness. |
| Darwin & Top End | April to August | Dry season Apr to Aug. Melons need rainless ripening. Harvest late dry season. |
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Ready when the netted skin turns golden, smells sweet at the stem end and slips from the vine with light pressure. It lifts free cleanly at full slip.
Storage
Bench until fully ripe (fragrant), then fridge for 3 to 4 days.