Heirloom Melons are a summer favorite and with a little planning, you can grow your own delicious melons from seeds.
From seed to harvest, melons are ready in as few as 70 days. This greatly depends on your soil temperature, weather, type of melon and moisture.
Melons like warm temperatures and plenty of sun.
Prior to planting your melon seeds, prepare your soil with a good layer of compost. If your soil needs a boost, add fertilizer 2 weeks prior to planting.
Planting Melon Seeds
Seeds can be sown indoors 4-8 weeks prior to your last frost date or direct sown in the garden after your last frost date.
Plant melon seeds 1/2 inch to 1 inch deep. If you are growing in rows, space several feet apart. If you are growing in hills, plant 4-5 seeds per hill. If you are growing in raised beds, plant 1 seed per square.
Melon Seeds usually germinate in 3-10 days. This can vary with soil temps and moisture.
Melons plants need 8-10 weeks of good, hot growing weather.
Water deeply and infrequently, one to two inches per week. Use drip hoses, soaker hoses or careful watering of the soil. Keeping the leaves dry with decrease your risk of powdery mildew and other diseases.
Companion Planting for Melons
Squash bugs, vine borers and striped cucumber beetles are common pests for melons.
Companion planting is definitely worth a try, using repellent plants that deter the squash bug.
They include catnip, tansy, radishes, nasturtiums, marigolds, bee balm and mint.
Melons are one of the most compatible plants in the garden and do well when planted with most anything including beans, peas, onions, leeks, chives, and garlic. They also flourish with cabbage, broccoli, carrots, kale, okra, cauliflower, spinach, brussel sprouts, and lettuce
Harvesting Melons
Melon fruit will also develop a sweet, musky aroma when ripe
Harvest melons when small cracks appear in the stem where it joins the fruit. Once the cracks circle the stem and the stem looks shriveled, the melon will break off with a slight twist. If more than light effort is needed to remove from the vine, it is not ripe.
2 comments
Thank you for the great article! I’m planning to put more energy and time into my melons this year.
Mary! I’m so happy to be your Friend and Customer. Been with you from Florida to California to Texas..I will be stockpiling seeds from you very soon in preparation for the impending economy Crash. You might think about putting together a survival pack. as always, Your Friend. George Kelly Wages.