When to Plant Honeydew Melon in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Honeydew Melon guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Apr to Aug
- Days to harvest
- about 11 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
Honeydew is a sprawling summer vine that produces smooth, pale green-fleshed sweet melons. It needs a long, warm, frost-free growing season, full sun and steady moisture.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr D
- May D
- Jun D
- Jul D
- Aug D
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Honeydew Melon in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Rich, fertile, organic-rich well-draining sandy loam
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 90-100cm apart, 150cm between rows
- Watering
- Keep soil evenly moist and water at the base of the plant rather than over the leaves to limit fungal disease. Mulch to hold moisture.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Dwarf Beans, Sweet Corn, Radish, Sunflower
- Grow before it
- Leafy greens and brassicas (Lettuce, Silverbeet, Broccoli)
- Grow after it
- Roots and alliums (Carrot, Beetroot, Onion)
Give the bed 3 turns before cucurbits go back in. Pumpkin, cucumber and zucchini want a bed with fresh compost dug through.
Tropical Growing Tips for Honeydew Melon
Recommended Varieties
- Honeydew Green Flesh (Green-fleshed honeydew)
- Bateekh Samara (Heirloom melon)
- Honeydew Orange Melon (Heritage open pollinated, orange flesh)
Key Challenges
- Powdery Mildew: Weakens leaves and reduces the crop
- Downy Mildew: Weakens leaves and can spoil the curd in wet weather
- Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission
- Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell
Pro Tips
- Work rich compost or well-rotted manure into soil prior to planting; feed with a high-potassium liquid organic fertiliser once flowers appear
- Apply a straw mulch around plants to conserve soil moisture, suppress weeds, and keep developing fruits clean off bare dirt
- Can be grown vertically on a sturdy trellis to save space; support heavy developing fruits with cloth or netting slings
Pests and problems for Honeydew Melon in Tropical
Harvesting Honeydew Melon
When ready: Rind changes from pale green to creamy yellow, blossom end turns slightly soft to thumb pressure, and a sweet melon aroma is present
How to harvest: Cut fruit stem carefully from the vine using sharp secateurs, leaving a short 2 to 3 cm stem stub
What honeydew melon costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Honeydew Melon
When do you plant honeydew melon in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan, Aug to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Dec
Can you grow honeydew melon all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Honeydew Melon in Cairns?
Sow from April to August during the dry season to prevent fruit rotting in heavy wet season rains.
What soil temperature do Honeydew Melon need?
Honeydew Melon germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 30°C.
How do I know when Honeydew Melon are ready to harvest?
Rind changes from pale green to creamy yellow, blossom end turns slightly soft to thumb pressure, and a sweet melon aroma is present
What are the best Honeydew Melon varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Honeydew Green Flesh (Green-fleshed honeydew), Bateekh Samara (Heirloom melon), Honeydew Orange Melon (Heritage open pollinated, orange flesh).
What grows well with Honeydew Melon?
Good companion plants for Honeydew Melon include: Nasturtium, Dwarf Beans, Sweet Corn, Radish, Sunflower.
Are honeydew melon salt tolerant?
No. Honeydew melon are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.