CUCURBIT PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA

Production of cucurbits crops in Australian occurs over a climatic variation ranging from latitudes 12S to 43S. Approximately 435,000 tonnes are produced from about 25,000 hectares and the value of the industry is estimated to be $330M. Cucurbit growing occurs in all states and some important production locations are the Burdekin region (north Queensland), Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (southern New South Wales) for field production (particularly melons & pumpkins) and outer Sydney (New South Wales) metropolitan areas and outer Adelaide (South Australia) metropolitan areas for greenhouse cucumber production. The major cucurbit crops and types produced are melons (rockmelon, watermelon, honeydew), greenhouse cucumbers (Lebanese, continental), pumpkins (large grey, butternut, jap), gherkins (processing), zucchini and squash. Other cucurbit crops are grown on a small scale and include choko, bitter gourd, hairy melon, ornamental gourds and luffa.