Best time to plant watermelon in Australia
Citrullus lanatus
A sprawling, frost-tender vine grown for its large, sweet, juicy fruit. It needs a long, hot season, plenty of room and steady water while the fruit swells.
On a shared plot: needs a lot of room
Vines wander well beyond a small bed. Train them back into your plot, and ask your coordinator if space is tight.
When to sow
| Zone | Months | How well checked |
|---|---|---|
| Cool | Sep to Dec | Broadly matches local guides, with some differences |
| Temperate | Aug to Dec | Matches local guides |
| Subtropical | Aug to Jan | Matches local guides |
| Tropical | Feb to Nov | Broadly matches local guides, with some differences |
| Arid | Aug to Jan | Broadly matches local guides, with some differences |
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
Growing details
- How to start
- Sow directly in the bed
- Sowing depth
- 25-38mm
- Plant spacing
- 90-120cm
- Row spacing
- 125cm
- Germination
- 10-14 days at 27-32°C
- Time to harvest
- 85 days
- Frost
- Frost tender
- Sun
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- annual
These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.