Vegetable Grow Guides
How to Grow Organic Melon from Seed
Cucumis melo
About Melon
Muskmelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew need heat, space, and patience. This chapter is for Cucumis melo — watermelon is a separate crop. Fruit ripens on the vine; it will not sweeten off the plant.
When to Plant
Sow after last frost when soil is 70°F+, or start pots 3 weeks earlier. Short-season gardens should choose early varieties (70–80 days).
How to Plant
Hills of 3 seeds, thin to 2, hills 3–4 ft apart (~0.25 plant per square foot). Rows 5 ft, or trellis small-fruited types with slings. Rich, warm soil; drip or soaker water. As with all melons, withhold extra nitrogen once vines run — you want fruit, not leaves.
When to Harvest
Cantaloupe is ready at full slip (the stem separates with a gentle tug), a strong perfume, and a beige net. Honeydew does not slip — look for a creamy color and a sweet smell at the blossom end. Watermelon harvest cues belong in the watermelon chapter.