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Growing Rockmelon, also Canteloupe

(Cucumis melo)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
P							S	S	T	T	P

(Best months for planting Rockmelon in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings. P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

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 20°C and 32°C. (Show °F/in)
Space plants: 40 - 60 cm apart
Harvest in 10-16 weeks.
Compatible with: Sweetcorn, Sunflowers
Avoid growing with: Potatoes

Leaves and flowers
Young melons

Start in small pots then transplant when no danger of frosts. Plant into a raised mound to provide good drainage and warmth. Frost tender, needs protection in cold climates. Provide plenty of water.

Ready to use when the fruit falls from the vine

In the United Kingdom start the seeds in a heated greenhouse with plenty of light.

Rockmelons may need hand pollination with a soft brush.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Rockmelon

Cut in half and scoop out and discard the seeds.
Sprinkle with some ground ginger or serve plain.

Your comments and tips

26 Jan 12, Jenny Dutton (Australia - sub-tropical climate): We are growing rockmelons for the first time and ave quite a few on the vinewhich are not yet ripe (haven't browned off at the stem yet) but they are getting to a good size. One appeared to ripen first on the end then rotted. Any ideas on the problem?
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29 Jan 12, Kate (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Hi! I have been growing rockmelons this year and I had 2 grow in Dec-Jan, and now at the end of Jan , I now have another 5-6 growing. Not sure why they didnt grow earlier on, but they are now growing, but I have had to manual pollinate as I havent had any bees this year flying around my flowers, so manually pollinating, but the problem for my plant is that I have mostly male flowers & hardly any female flowers and I have 5 plants. Very strange why I have sooo many male flowers. I was hoping to have a bumper crop this year of Rockies. Hope at the end of this year, it becomes a better crop for us! Do your rockies grow Round? I have round rockies, not oval as in like the store brought ones.
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28 Jan 12, (Australia - arid climate): I had that happen with watermelon also. Plus I am growing Rockmelon for the first time. But so hard heaps of vine but only 1 fruit. So I am watching it and caring for it with so much love.
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25 Jan 12, Jan (Australia - temperate climate): Our rockmelon vine is prolific with plenty of Vine & the fruit almost growing on top of each other. Does the fruit need sun exposure or just the vine? The vine is covering all the fruit will they ripen that way? Thanks Jan
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03 Feb 12, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have found sometimes the intence heat of the North West W.A. effects the flower set. Try March to September. Had the same trouble with watermellons too.
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24 Jan 12, mal (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I live in hoppers crossing vic and have raised veggie beds in my front yard. I have several rockmelon plants laiden with quite large fruit. I never expected them to grow this well considering the location I am in, is this unusual?
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01 Feb 12, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): hi iam in hoppers aswell we have a lot of melons how can you tell when they are ready do they change colour"?
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08 Jan 12, kate (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I have 4 rockmelon plants in my terracotta pot out on the balcony and they are growing really well. I have 3 small rockmelons growing on them (they are still green). I actually got these seeds from the rockmelons from the supermarket out of the half rockmelon I purchased. I took them out of the rocky & dried the seeds out and replanted them. Voila..... I have my own plants growing. Our season here in Victoria has been all over the place. But I am pleased to say that I finally have rockmelons going on my balcony in a bigish terracotta pot.
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30 Dec 11, Jane Williams (Australia - temperate climate): We planted, bought seedlings about 8 to 10 weeks ago. The vines are growing well and have lots of little yellow flowers, but no sign of any melons forming as yet. We have other veggies in that the bees seem to like but haven't seen any on the rock melon flowers at all. Do we need to hand pollenate them?
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26 Dec 11, Barbara (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I planted rock melons and water melons in a tank. The plants germinated and appeared to be growing well and flowering. However the tiny rock melons turned yellow and dropped off when about 1 cm long. Do you think there is a soil deficiency?
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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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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. Gardenate 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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