How to grow Rockmelon (Cantaloupe)

Find out how to grow Rockmelon in your garden, including sun requirements, planting tips, feeding, and when to harvest.

Rockmelon prefers a rich, moisture retentive soil with plenty of compost mixed in.

Plant Rockmelon in a full sun position. 

No, Rockmelon vines are not frost tolerant. 

Plant Rockmelon vines roughly 1m apart. 

Rockmelon is a warm season crop, best planted in temperatures between 18.5 and 30°C (65–86°F). Sow seeds in spring or transplant seedlings once the danger of frost has passed.

If transplanting seedlings, plant out in the early morning or evening and/or on an overcast day. Avoid planting at peak sun times or on windy days, this will allow your plants to settle in comfortably and protect them from windburn and sunburn. 

Feed your Rockmelon vines with a regular application of organic fertiliser throughout the season. 

Harvest the fruit when the stalk that attaches the melon to the vine begins to wither and the melon can be pulled away easily. The melon will also have a sweet smell which is another good sign that it is ready to eat.

Pests that can affect Rockmelon include: Aphids, Spider mites, Thrips, Slugs, Snail, Squash Bugs, Cucumber Beetle, 28 Spotted Ladybug. 

Diseases that can affect Rockmelon include: Mosaic Virus, Anthracnose, Powdery Mildew, Bacterial Wilt, Bacterial Leaf Spot, Phytophthora fruit and Crown Rot. 

Rockmelon can be grown along the ground or trained up a trellis. If growing along the ground, mulch the area to control weeds and to keep the fruit from coming into contact with the soil.