Sweet melons

This page has information for commercial melon growers in the Northern Territory (NT).

Sweet melons are an important industry in the NT. Sweet melons include rockmelon, honey dew melon and watermelon.

The growing requirements are similar, but post-harvest handling is different. Watermelon is packed in bulk, whereas rockmelon and honey dew melons are graded.

Melons in the NT may be affected by the cucumber green mottle mosaic virus and it is important to have good biosecurity measures in place.

Read more about cucumber green mottle mosaic virus.

Grower advice

Melons require mounding with moist but not soggy soil, and a pH of around 6 to 6.5. The irrigation and fertilisation of melons needs to be closely monitored and controlled.

Read the below Agnotes and growing notes for detailed guidance about growing melons.

Pest and disease management

Several pests affect melons such as cucumber moth caterpillar, heliothis caterpillar, pumpkin beetle, aphids, false wireworm, nematodes and ants.

For more information read the following

Diseases common to melons are powdery mildew, downy mildew, gummy stem blight, watermelon mosaic virus and soil-borne root diseases.

Read more about the cucumber green mottle mosaic virus and its effect on melons.

Melon necrotic spot virus

Melon necrotic spot virus infects watermelon, rockmelon, muskmelon and cucumber.

Read more about the virus on this Plant Health Australia fact sheet.

A melon industry biosecurity plan is available from the Australian Melon Association website.

Other insect pests

Visit the Northern Territory Insects Database to identify an insect pest and the damage it can cause.

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Sweet melons

Grower advice

General information

Rockmelons

Watermelons

Cover Crops

Pest and disease management

Melon necrotic spot virus

Other insect pests

Vegetable field guide

Research results

General information

Industry associations