Production - Watermelon

Watermelons were first grown on a commercial basis at Moonrocks in the summer of 2002. Since then Moonrocks has developed different forms of production and packing of watermelons.

Watermelon ground is prepared in the exact same fashion as the rockmelon and honeydew ground, therefore the plastic and Trickle Tape have been laid prior to planting. Except watermelon rows require to be further apart due to the adult size of the plant. Watermelons are planted as seedlings, and as time continues so to does the science behind the seedlings, today Moonrocks, like other watermelon growers have the capacity to plant seedless melons only.

Traditionally seeded watermelons were planted after every seedless watermelon seedling. Today the non fruit bearing plant becomes the pollenator and with the assistance of bees the seedless melons grow.

Watermelons take 10-12 weeks to grow. They are treated the exact same as the rockmelons except the watermelon can become very susceptible to sunburn, especially in the Queensland summer. As the fruit begins to grow to its full capacity, the plant and leaves cannot always cover the melon and therefore sunburn occurs. Developments have included a sunscreen for produce, like sunscreen for humans, applications of this product assist the prevention of damage to watermelons from sunburn.

Along with the sun damage Watermelons are susceptible to untimely rain and pests. Local foxes, and birds can be found dining on the pink flesh. Significant rain just as the melon is about ready to be harvested leads to the melon taking an unnatural amount of water and rapidly growing. Unfortunately the internal characteristics of the watermelon cant keep up and this is why the watermelon may have cracks in the ‘heart’ when first cut open.

The harvest is currently performed with a harvest aid and a tractor. The Harvest Aid has a boom which operates a conveyor belt bringing each watermelon safely up to the bins on the deck of the Harvest Aid. Staff inspect each watermelon as the place them into bins, which can be rotated on the deck, and which are lowered to the ground and removed by bin tractors. AT the end of each block bins are stacked and carried away by trucks to a packing shed.

Unlike rockmelons, watermelons are sold per kilogram and therefore weights are very important. AT the shed, each bin made of either plastic or cardboard and ranging from 100-500kilogram capacities are individually weighed, recorded and identified. Bins are then stacked as they would be on trucks for ease of dispatch.

Moonrocks have the ability to store watermelons in cool rooms, but watermelons can also be stored out of refrigeration. Transport of watermelons therefore can be dry or refrigerated. Moonrocks can see several trucks depart the farms during a day loaded with tonnes of melon on their way to the eastern states city centres.