Watermelon

02Planting

Planting timing varies significantly by Australian climate zone. Set your zone above (or use the Find My Climate Zone tool) for guidance tailored to your own area.

03Growing care

• Water deeply at the base once or twice a week; ease off as fruit ripens for sweeter flesh.
• Mulch under the vines to keep fruit clean, hold moisture and suppress weeds.
• Feed with compost at planting, then a potassium-rich feed such as comfrey tea once fruit has set.
• Hand-pollinate in the morning if bees are scarce: dab pollen from a male flower onto a female one.

04Problems

• Powdery mildew — white powdery patches on leaves in humid weather; water at soil level and give vines room for airflow.
• Fusarium wilt — vines wilt and die from the crown while the soil stays moist; rotate crops and avoid replanting cucurbits in the same bed.
• Poor fruit set — flowers drop without fruiting in cool or wet weather or when bees are scarce; hand-pollinate.
• Fruit flies — sting young fruit and spoil it from inside; net or bag small fruit and clear fallen produce.

05Harvest & storage