Question
Hi i am contacting you from the Gold Coast, Queensland Australia. I am wanting to begin propagating pumpkins & watermelons & am wandering what time of the year is best for sowing the seeds in this particular climate. I'm also wanting to know how i can tell when these are ripe & ready to harvest as in how approximately how long does it take from the time i plant the seeds till the time they are ready to eat....thank you.

Answer
Hi Freddy,
Thanx for your question.  I live in a climate in the middle of the U.S. that gets cold in the winter but we have very hot summers.  Pumpkins and watermelons both, love hot weather and are very intolerant of cold or freezing weather.  Also, watermelons and pumpkins do not transplant well so it is best to direct seed them into the ground unless you plant the seeds in individual containers where their roots won't be disturbed.  Plant the seeds once all danger of frost is past and night time temperatures do not fall below 15 or 16C.  Daytime temperatures should be 26 or 27C or above.  Make sure the plants get at least 2.5cm of water each week if you're not getting regular, steady rainfall.  Watermelons and pumpkins all mature at different times depending upon the variety.  You can count on an average of 90-120 days for maturity of the fruit.

Here is a website that will helpful for you from the Australian Department of Agriculture.  Let me know if you need more info.
thx,
Tom

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/browse/crops/horticultural