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Vegetable

Watermelon

Citrullus lanatus

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.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (3)

  • Crimson SweetLarge striped melons; sweet and disease resistant
  • Moon and StarsHeirloom with starry yellow spots; rich flavour; needs a long season
  • Sugar BabySmall round melons (3 to 5 kg); early and suited to small gardens

Neighbours

Grows well with

Keep away from

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    150 cm apart, seed 25 mm deep. Full sun.

  2. Water

    Water deeply, then ease off as fruit ripens.

  3. Feed

    Compost mound at sowing.

  4. Pick, from about 12 weeks

    Ripe when the tendril nearest the fruit dries and the underside yellows.

Good to know

  • Pinch out vine tips after 2 to 3 fruit have set on small types
  • Mulch thickly to conserve water and keep fruit clean

Common problems

  • Powdery mildewwater at the base, space for airflow; remove badly affected leaves
  • Poor fruit setattract bees; hand pollinate if needed
  • Fruit split or blandwater evenly, then ease off as fruit ripens
  • Fruit rot underneathsit fruit on straw or a tile

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about watermelonAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing watermelonQuestions, tips and harvests from the community
Where this information comes from
  • Australian seed company regional sowing charts (temperate zone) (germination, low confidence)
  • ABC Gardening Australia fact sheets (growing, medium confidence)
  • Gardenate: Growing Watermelon (comparison only) (growing comparison, medium confidence, checked 27 Oct 2026)
  • Sustainable Gardening Australia: planting guides (sowing window, medium confidence)

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 27 Oct 2026. Version 2.