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Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus Sow watermelon seed direct after all danger of frost has passed into warm soil, 1-2 cm deep, 1 m apart on raised mounds, rows 2 m apart; watermelons need plenty of space. Prepare your soil with compost and well-rotted manure; deep digging is beneficial. The soil needs to be well drained. Avoid over-watering once the fruit is nearly ripe as this will make for a bland flavoured melon (as will too much rain). Harvest when the tendril closest to the fruit stem is dry and brown and when the underside of the fruit has changed colour to yellow. For those with a musical ear you can try tapping it to see if it sounds hollow. |
![]() 'Bush Jubilee' is a great choice for gardeners who want to enjoy a juicy, sweet watermelon but have limited space. The compact vines only spread 1 to 2 metres. The oblong fruits weigh between 4 and 5 kg with alternating yellow-green and dark-green stripes. The red flesh is crisp and juicy with a high sugar content. Watermelons require a long, hot growing season. The vines have some disease resistance and drought tolerance. Days to harvest: 90 - 100 days. SW172approx. 20 seeds SW173 SW102 |
![]() 'Charleston Gray' is a watermelon developed in 1954 in South Carolina that produces good yields. The fruit weigh 9 to 18 kg and are large and oblong shaped, with a grey-green rind and sweet bright, fibre-free, delicious red flesh. It is suitable for both home gardens and market growers. It holds well on the vine without becoming over-ripe and the tough skin resists bruising. It is disease resistant particularly to sunburn, Fusarium and Anthracnose. Days to harvest: 87 - 100 days SW153approx. 20 seeds SW162 SW163 SW155 |
![]() syn. Warpaint 'Crimson Sweet' is sweet, with a high sugar content around 12% making it one of the sweetest watermelons. The vines are large, spreading and productive. The fruit is round, dark green with large stripes, weighs 10 - 12 kg with a dark red, juicy flesh with a fine texture, it contains few seeds. It thrives in a wide range of climates and has good disease resistance. Days to harvest: 85-96. SW101approx. 20 seeds SW156 SW157 |
![]() 'Golden Honey' is a rare heirloom variety producing round fruits with a light green skin striped with dark green. It weighs between 10 - 15 kg. The flesh is golden yellow, juicy, sweet and tender with minimal large seeds. It looks great on fruit platters with red watermelon slices. Days to harvest: 85-95. SW151approx. 20 seeds SW169 SW104 |
![]() 'Golden Midget' is a rare, mini watermelon weighing 1.3 kg that will easily fit in the fridge, as it is not much bigger than a large rockmelon. The fruit is round with a golden skin and salmon pink, sweet flesh. Fruit sets well on a short, compact (for a watermelon) vine. The leaves are both green and yellow, the yellow colour is normal. It is the easiest watermelon to grow, particularly in cooler areas. Days to harvest: 70. SW148approx. 10 seeds SW170 |
![]() 'Moon and Stars' is a heirloom variety with very sweet, bright red flesh known for its delicious flavour. The rind is patterned with yellow markings and the foliage can be speckled as well. The fruit is slightly oblong and weighs 10 - 20 kg. Watermelons require a long, hot growing season. Days to harvest: 90 days. SW116approx. 10 seeds SW117 |
![]() Popular home garden variety that will fit in the fridge, round fruit 3 - 5 kg. Red flesh is crisp, mouth-watering, with a sweet, rich flavour. Sets 4-6 melons per vine, easiest watermelon to grow. SW140approx. 20 seeds SW158 SW159 |
![]() Benincasa hispida syn. Chinese winter melon, flour gourd A fast growing, long season, warm climate vegetable producing very large fruit up to 20 kg but it is best harvested at 2 kg. The gourds are green with a white waxy coating. The wax gourd keeps for many months off the vine and is eaten raw or cooked. The shoots, tendrils and leaves are also eaten as greens; seeds are edible and are tasty roasted. Use the white flesh of this giant fruit in a chicken and wax-gourd curry; serve appetizers of finely chopped stir-fried vegetables in bowls made from a hollowed-out melon. Sow after frost in spring; in tropical areas sow during the dry season. Sow direct into well composted soil, 1-2 cm deep, 1 m apart on raised mounds, rows 1 m apart. Days to harvest: 100. This is an F1 hybrid so is not suitable for seed saving. SW121approx. 45 seeds SW171 |
Zucchini
![]() Cucurbita pepo Zucchini should be sown direct, after frost, as it needs a warm soil to germinate; in subtropical areas and tropical areas avoid sowing during periods of high humidity. Space 'hills' 1 m apart, add plenty of compost, sow 3-6 seeds 15-20 mm deep and thin to the 2-3 strongest. Keep the soil moist. It needs a rich, high in nitrogen, well-drained soil, preferred pH 6-7.5. Pick when about 15 cm long, the flowers are also edible. Plan for 2 plants per 4-6 people. |
![]() ![]() 'Black Beauty' produces dark-green, glossy, smooth fruit with creamy, white flesh and a good flavour. It is fast growing with a prolific yield. The fruit freezes well. Bushes have a semi-upright, open growth habit which makes for easy picking. In subtropical and tropical areas avoid sowing during periods of high humidity. It is an open-pollinated zucchini introduced in 1957. Days to harvest: 44 - 64. SZ153approx. 20 seeds SZ154 SZ155 SZ156 |
![]() ![]() Syn. Cocozella di Napoli 'Cocozelle' is an heirloom squash from Italy, long and cylindrical, pale green with dark green stripes. It is tender with a good flavour. Best harvested just as the flower falls away. It can also be grown large as a marrow. Days to harvest: 45 - 50. SZ102approx. 20 seeds SZ131 SZ132 SZ115 SZ138 |
![]() ![]() Syn. Costata Romanesco A distinctive Italian heirloom bush zucchini with prominently ribbed fruit. The skin is medium grey-green with pale green flecks. It is delicious raw or cooked with a nutty flavour. The male flower buds are also eaten. It stays tender even when very large. It is a favourite of the River Café and Jamie Oliver. Days to harvest: 52 - 60. SZ110approx. 15 seeds |
![]() ![]() 'Golden' zucchini produces slender, cylindrical fruit. The bright golden colour adds interest to stir-fries and ratatouille. It has a distinctive nutty flavour and can be eaten raw or cooked; fast growing with a prolific yield. Bushes have an upright, open growth habit which makes for easy picking. Days to harvest: 48. SZ117approx. 20 seeds SZ146 SZ147 |
![]() ![]() Syn. 'Lebanese', 'Middle Eastern', Mexican Grey Squash 'Grey' zucchini has a tapered shape rather than cylindrical. The pale grey-green mottled skin is smooth and shiny; it has solid, crisp flesh. 'Grey' zucchini has a great flavour, it is slightly sweeter than other zucchini. It can be eaten raw or cooked; and is fast growing with a prolific yield. Pick when about 8 - 15 cm long; flowers are also edible. Days to harvest: 49 days. SZ122approx. 20 seeds SZ143 SZ144 |
Q. Why don't my pumpkin, squash or zucchini set fruit?
A. The most obvious problem can be lack of bees. Many gardeners find they need to hand pollinate. To encourage a visit by bees, avoid using overhead sprinklers and any form of insecticide. Bees also do not like windy conditions. There are a range of other factors that influence pollination and successful fruit set:
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