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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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22 Nov 09, Betty Menzies (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My rock melons like to attach themselves to a vertical wire-netting fence. Should I encourage them to grow upwards as a vine, then support the fruit somehow, or are they better to remain growing along the ground?
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10 Jan 10, Helen O'Toole (Australia - temperate climate)
We planted afew seeds and now we have have about 12 rockmelons that will be ready at the same time is there any way I can preserve them?
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21 Jan 10, Helen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have RMs growing both climbing as well as crawling on the ground. They are all growing very well sized. How do I know when to harvest? I dont want to lose any of them. I live in Perth
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26 Jan 10, lesley (Australia - tropical climate)
i have planted tomato seedlings and when i transplanted them, they died a few days later. what did i do wrong? I live in Darwin?
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04 Sep 10, Robyn (Australia - tropical climate)
I'm in darwin as well and was told never to plant tomoto plants in the ground. Pots apparently work well.
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07 Aug 10, (Australia - temperate climate)
how do you tell a good rock melon seed from the bad ones?
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17 Sep 10, Jancis (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Can you tell me anything about how long it takes until the leaves sprout from the seed tray? I need to know!!!
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19 Sep 10, Mark (Australia - temperate climate)
A couple weeks ago (early september) I planted some Rockmelon seeds in a seed tray and most have come up. At how many weeks should I put them in the ground? I have about 10 seedlings going. How many fruite would I be expecting per plant.
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12 Jan 11, Alison (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, This is my first time growing rockmelons. I'm in Melbourne region. I planted them out in late November, and they are spreading across the garden bed like weeds, and have tons of flowers on them, that look nice and healthy. Do I need to do anything to them to make the flowers become fruit??? I'd hate to just watch the flowers dissappear to nothing after all this! (Do they cross-polenate with other types of veg/fruit? eg Toms/cucumber/capsicum that I'm also growing in there). They are growing in a no-dig veggie garden of mushroom compost/lucerne hay/straw/chook poo layers.
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30 Jan 11, sue (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live in SEQ,and have jusr found rockmelons growing in the front yard. I can only assume they started in our compost bin. Is this usual?? I know they are rockmelons as there are 3 half grown fruit on the vine.Rock melons have never been planted in our yard before.. Would be interested in knowing if this has happened to anyone else. thx
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Post a question, comment or tip about Rockmelon

A couple weeks ago (early september) I planted some Rockmelon seeds in a seed tray and most have come up. At how many weeks should I put them in the ground? I have about 10 seedlings going. How many fruite would I be expecting per plant.

- Mark


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