Your comments and tips

16 Dec 08, gareth (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

hi i have just been out back and planted some watermelon what type of soil do they need how much room do they take and anything eles i may need ti know

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20 Dec 08, Paige (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

My watermellons are in full swing and I have one that was the size of a marble two days ago and now sits snuggly in the palm of your hand. Its running across the ground, but we have strawberries and its getting into the hay and the strawberry plants. Will this effect my watermellons?

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03 Jan 09, Sarina (Australia - temperate climate)

The fruit on my vine seems to have stopped growing- the biggest is about 20cmx4cm and its been this size for 4 weeks or more. The other vines have small fruit but also not really growing. Any hints?

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11 Jan 09, mark (Australia - temperate climate)

I have a similar problem were the fruit has got to a certain size and then stopped growing ?

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29 Jan 09, amy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

when are they ready to be picked

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30 Jan 09, Grahame (Australia - temperate climate)

Amy, When to pick watermelons is one of life's great mysteries, but there are a few tips to help you out...Tapping on a ripe watermelon give a heavier thud than unripe ones, watch out for a yellowing stem, a yellowing patch on the underside where it touches the soil and also the skin gets a more powdery look to it rather than it's normal glossy sheen. I picked a couple before I started to get it right. Another thing is to leave it then for another wekk after you have picked it so that it can finish ripening. good luck

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18 Feb 09, wendi (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I now again have two large watermelons growing i picked one about a month ago it was huge but it was pink inside why is this was it not ready.. do not want to make the same mistake with these ones. and yes it is taking over my vegie garden...

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22 Feb 09, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)

It should sound "dull" when tapped, but I always think sound is subjective. Look at the growing end where the stalk is and about 5cm away will be a tendril (curly growth). When it starts to wither it's close - wait till it dies .and then pick and enjoy. (In your area it still could be a couple of weeks away.)

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28 Feb 09, Nev (Australia - temperate climate)

i would like to know how can i tell when my watermelon are ready to be picked ?

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22 Mar 09, Jacki (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi It's March and my kids planted some seeds early this year. The vine has been taking over since late Jan and now we have a watermelon which i think is nearly ready to be picked. it's been growing rapidly for a month or so and the growth has slowed down this last week. We only have 1 melon on the vine - is this normal for sydney?

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