How to grow Honeydew Melon in New Zealand
Honeydew is the smooth-skinned melon with pale green or orange flesh, sweet and juicy when grown in a hot summer. It needs a long, warm season, more than a rockmelon, so in New Zealand it is easiest in the north and in sheltered, sunny spots or tunnel houses further south. Unlike rockmelon, it does not come away from the vine when ripe, so you judge it by colour, feel and smell.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Honeydew Melon
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | October and November | |
| Auckland | October and November | |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | October and November | |
| Central North Island | December | Marginal. Needs a tunnel house or black plastic mulch to ripen before autumn. |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | November and December | Sow Nov to Dec in the warmest spot, sheltered from the wind. Choose early varieties so fruit ripens before autumn. |
| Nelson & Marlborough | November and December | Sow Nov to Dec in the warmest, sunniest spot and choose early varieties. |
| Canterbury | November and December | Sow Nov to Dec once the frosts finish in mid October, in the warmest spot out of the nor'wester. Choose early varieties. |
| Otago & Southland | December | Marginal. Needs a tunnel house or black plastic mulch to ripen before autumn. |
| Central Otago | December | Marginal. Needs a tunnel house or black plastic mulch to ripen before autumn. |
Not to be confused with: Rockmelon (cantaloupe), the netted melon that slips from the vine when ripe, and watermelon.
Where to plant
Grow honeydew in full sun in the warmest, most sheltered part of the garden, in rich, free-draining soil dug through with compost. Melons need room for the vines to roam. Honeydew prefers hot, dry summers, and cool or humid weather slows ripening and brings leaf disease.
Do not sow until the soil is warm and frosts are over. In cooler districts, black plastic mulch to warm the soil, or a tunnel house, makes the difference between a crop and none.
- Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty: sow in October and November for fruit in late summer and autumn.
- Wellington and Nelson and Marlborough: sow in November and December in the warmest spot, sheltered from wind, and choose an early variety such as Earlidew.
- Canterbury: sow in November and December once the frosts finish in mid October, in the warmest spot out of the nor'wester. Choose early varieties.
- Central North Island, Otago and Southland, and Central Otago: marginal. Sow in December and use a tunnel house or black plastic mulch so fruit ripens before autumn.
Choosing a variety
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| Earlidew | The earliest to ripen, and the safe choice for a short or cool season |
| Honey Orange | Orange flesh, sweeter and more aromatic than green types |
| Tam Dew | Classic green flesh, reliable, and stores better than most |
| Honey Dew (Egmont) | Sweet, juicy pale green flesh; fruit about 10 to 12 cm across, about 125 days to harvest. Prefers hot, dry climates |
How to plant
- Make low mounds of compost-rich soil about 90 cm to 1 m apart in full sun.
- Sow three or four seeds about 2 cm deep in each mound once the soil is warm, or sow in trays indoors about three to four weeks before planting out. Seed germinates in about 7 to 10 days.
- Thin to the two or three strongest seedlings per mound.
- If you raise seedlings, plant them out carefully without disturbing the roots once nights are warm.
- Mulch around the plants to hold moisture and keep the fruit off bare soil.
Watering and feeding
Water well while the vines grow and the fruit swells, ideally at the base of the plant or in the morning so the leaves stay dry, which reduces disease. Once the fruit is full size and starting to ripen, cut back on watering so the flesh sweetens.
Feed with a liquid plant food weekly once seedlings are growing, until fruit has set.
Pruning and care through the year
- Melons need bees to set fruit. Flowering plants nearby help bring pollinators in.
- In short-season areas, pinch out late flowers and small fruit from about mid summer, so the plant ripens the fruit it has.
- Set ripening fruit on a tile or board to keep it off damp soil.
Harvesting
Honeydew does not slip from the vine when ripe, so waiting for it to come away means waiting too long. Watch for the skin changing from pale green to creamy or yellowish white, the blossom end giving slightly when pressed, a faint sweet smell, and the tendril nearest the fruit turning brown and dry.
Cut the melon with a few centimetres of stem. A whole honeydew keeps about two weeks in a cool room; once cut, keep it in the fridge and eat it within a week.
Growing in pots
Honeydew is a big, sprawling vine and is best grown in the ground. In a small garden you can try one plant in a large tub with a strong trellis, supporting each fruit in a sling, but yields are small.
Companion planting
Melons like the same warm, sunny conditions as other summer crops and pair well with tall or quick crops.
Good companions
- Corn Yates NZ lists sweet corn as a melon companion; the vines can run between the corn rows.
- Nasturtium Its flowers bring in pollinators and it can act as a trap for aphids.
- Radish A quick crop to sow on the mounds and pull before the vines spread.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to honeydew melon.
- Potato Traditional companion lists keep potatoes away from melons and other cucurbits.
Pests and diseases
Honeydew problems mostly come from cool, damp weather rather than pests. Watering at the base and good spacing prevent most leaf disease.
Pests to watch for
- Aphids Clusters under leaves, which curl and yellow.
Diseases to watch for
- Powdery mildew White powdery patches on leaves from mid summer, which then yellow and die back.
Common questions
How do I know when a honeydew is ripe?
Honeydew does not slip off the vine. Pick it when the skin turns from pale green to creamy or yellowish white, the blossom end gives slightly, it smells faintly sweet and the tendril nearest the fruit has browned.
Can I grow honeydew in the South Island?
In Nelson, Marlborough and sheltered Canterbury gardens, an early variety such as Earlidew sown in November or December can ripen in a warm summer. In Otago, Southland and Central Otago use a tunnel house or black plastic mulch.
Why are my melons not sweet?
Usually not enough heat or sun, picking too early, or too much water as the fruit ripens. Grow them in the warmest spot, ease off watering as the fruit matures, and wait for the ripeness signs.
Why are flowers falling off without fruit?
Melons make male flowers first, and these drop naturally. Female flowers have a tiny melon behind them and need bees to pollinate them, so plant flowers nearby and avoid spraying when bees are about.
When should I sow honeydew?
Sow in October and November in the North Island's warm districts, and in November and December in Wellington, Nelson and Canterbury. In the coldest districts wait until December and grow it under cover.
Sources we checked: Yates NZ: How to grow melons; Egmont Seeds NZ: Rock Melon Honey Dew; Iowa State University Extension: How can you tell when to harvest honeydew melons?.