A massive supply of New Zealand grown watermelons meant Magic Fresh in Dinsdale were able to sell them for $3.99 each at the end of February. Local shopper Mereana Cooper, 18, digs for the best watermelon.

It may have been a flop for broccoli and cabbages but the hot wet end to summer has Kiwi-grown tropical fruit flourishing.

The summer season was a flop for leafy green vegetable growers across the country, with many crops rotting, causing prices to spike.

But bananas and watermelons have soaked up the blistering temperatures and tropical rain.

KELLY HODEL / STUFF Bananas have been "extra happy" in the warm, wet weather, Tropical Fruit Growers New Zealand president Hugh Rose said.

Despite a lot of wet weather, New Zealand experienced the hottest summer on record.

READ MORE:

* Gita spills over to New Zealand dinner plates, with produce prices spiking

* Hail and wet weather take a toll on vegetables

* No leftovers for NZ shoppers - we get export grade fruit and vegetables

And Tropical Fruit Growers New Zealand president Hugh Rose said he couldn't have asked for better.

KELLY HODEL / STUFF Tropical fruit, water melon and bananas having a good season this year with the warm weather.

"It has been an absolutely amazing season for growth.

"We have what we call three-day-leaves, you see a shoot and three days later you have one and a half to two metre large leaves sitting where that shoot was.

"That's how fast bananas are growing.

"Watermelon growth has been phenomenal, too."

Northland climates are best for growing tropical fruit, but Gisborne and warmer areas of South Auckland can work well too.

This year, Rose has even managed to grow a rare breed of banana, wiped out in Jamaica.

Plentiful rain had been the icing on the cake, Rose said.

"Bananas do like water. Humidity - that's happiness for them, makes an extra happy banana.

"I want to be selling in the Waikato but it's probably about five years before we get [there]."

Before autumn hit, Hamilton's Magic Fresh in Dinsdale were selling big New Zealand grown watermelons for $3.99 each.

Owner Gurdej Singh said while imported bananas stayed the same price at around $2.49 per kg throughout the year, an abundant supply of watermelon meant they were sold much cheaper.

"We sold about three or four bins a day, so probably about 200 to 300 water melons," Gurdej said. "Last year we didn't have much because of the weather.

"But this season was a very good season for the watermelon."

Anyone wanting to contact Hugh Rose to learn more about growing tropical fruit in New Zealand can visit here.