When to plant watermelon in Cooktown
- Move seedlings out: early Feb to mid NovCooktown area, tropical savanna
- Sow in the ground: early Feb to mid NovCooktown area, tropical savanna
- Plant seedlings: early Feb to mid NovCooktown area, tropical savanna
- Sow in trays: late Dec to early OctCooktown area, tropical savanna
Worked out from 30 years of climate records for Cooktown. Microclimates vary: frost hollows and hills run later.
A sprawling summer vine that needs Adelaide's long hot season, plenty of space and warm soil. Sow or plant in late spring. A melon is ripe when the tendril nearest it has browned and the patch underneath turns creamy yellow.