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Growing Rockmelon, also Canteloupe

(Cucumis melo)

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

(Best months for planting Rockmelon in USA - Zone 5a regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. 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 68°F and 90°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 16 - 24 inches apart
  • Harvest in 10-16 weeks.
  • Compatible with: Sweetcorn, Sunflowers
  • Avoid growing with: Potatoes
  • Leaves and flowers
  • Young melons

Your comments and tips

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25 Nov 12, Ean Sutton (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live in Newcastle (Australia) and seem to be having trouble with rockmelon polination. Is there a sure fire way of rectifying this problem and is there an obvious difference between the male and female flowers appearance
24 Nov 12, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
High I have grown water mellon on the North West Coast of Tasmania and grew on almost clay and a cup of water each plant per day and I now live on the east Coast of Tasmania and have tried to grow again but I must say the seed was old so have brought fresh water mellon seeds and are trying rock mellon as well would like to know any hints you may have might I also add we have had to make all our own soil with composting anything and everything we live inland and it is quite hot over the summer months for Tassie, up to 30 and very dry
30 Oct 12, Suzanne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have just planted rockmelon seedlings & would like to know if they prefer cow manure, horse manure or chook manure, as I can get any of the above. Also on the seedlings punnet it says to grow them on a fence or trellis? I had not heard of this before? what benefits are there to this type of growing? Thank You.
01 Jan 13, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
Suzanne, Do not use horse manure unless you compost it. Cows have 4 stomachs and any weed seeds are disolved. Do not make the mistake that l did & use horse manure. Horses only have one stomach & you will get a fine crop of weeds, year after year.
07 Jan 13, Suzanne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Thank you Michael, I have lots of rockmelons on the vines, but when I picked 4 yesterday, only one was edible, due to little holes in the others and when cut open they had little fruit maggots in them! They have obviously been "blown" by something? What should I spray the other young ones with before I lose even more. It was so disappointing as the melons that I picked were ripe and smelt delicious!
18 Aug 12, Patri (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I started rockmelons from seed in April and May. I transplanted them into my garden bed and none of them has given me any fruit so far!! Just one of the vines (out of 6) is growing one rockmelon eventually... Are they difficult to get pollinated?? I've pollinated them myself because I dont trust bees so much ( I dont get many, that's what I mean) but I haven't been very successful...nanyone with the same problem?
08 Oct 12, Anna (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I just started my Rockmelon today and I live in Sydney.
21 Feb 12, Rex (Australia - temperate climate)
Re Rock-melon pollination I accidentally planted some coriander near a Rockmelon as I have never grown either one before and the coriander flowers encouraged lots of bees , which in turn assisted in pollinating the Rockmelon, so in future that will be my plan.
14 Feb 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
From three vines I have just one healthy rock melon growing. The others seem to form buds, grow a little, and then turn yellow and wither. Is this lack of pollination or soil deficiency?
23 Feb 13, lita (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I pollinate the flowers myself and they seems to be lots of flowers . Some of them form buds but they only grow a little and they turn yellow and died too. Have anyone know the reasons?

Post a question, comment or tip about Rockmelon

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?

- mal


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