Start melon seeds indoors before transplanting to your garden outside. Sow seed indoors at the end of April , about 2 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost date. Use peat pots or other biodegradable containers that you can place directly into garden soils. Use larger pots than you would for other vegetables.
What month do you plant watermelon?
- Plant watermelon from late spring to early summer, once soil temperatures reach 70° F or above.
- Space watermelon 3 to 5 feet apart in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
What month do you plant watermelons and cantaloupes?
Sow seeds outside about 2 weeks after the last frost date when soil temperatures are about 65°F. In the low desert of Arizona, the best time to plant cantaloupe is from late February through July .
What month do you plant cantaloupe?
- Sow cantaloupe (muskmelon) seed in the garden or set out transplants 3 to 4 weeks after the last average frost date in spring.
- Start cantaloupe seed indoors about 6 weeks before transplanting seedlings into the garden.
What is the season for melons?
During the months of May to September , melons are in season. While available year-round in a supermarket, melons are much more affordable during the summer season. The three most popular melons in America are cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew.
How late is too late for watermelon?
- The best time to plant watermelon seeds is from late spring to early summer, or when the soil temperature reaches 70 degrees or above.
- Watermelon seeds germinate easily and quickly, and seedlings don’t usually transplant well, so there’s no need to start them in a pot or seed tray.
Do watermelon plants come back every year?
As annual plants, watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) must be replanted every season and will not survive the winter either as seedlings or fully grown plants. Watermelons require warm weather to grow quickly and produce their sweet, juicy fruit.
How many watermelons do you get per plant?
How Many Watermelons per Plant? Healthy watermelon vines produce 2-4 fruits per plant . The vines produce both male and female flowers. Both are needed to set fruit and there are fewer female flowers compared to male, about one female for every seven males.
How long does it take for a watermelon to grow to full size?
It takes the shortest amount of time to mature, about 70 to 75 days . A main-season watermelon is larger and takes longer to ripen, usually 80 to 90 days.
What is the lifespan of a watermelon plant?
About 2 to 3 melons can be obtained per plant in its single lifespan of 3-4 months . Usually, gardeners purposely keep only one watermelon per plant to harvest big sized fruits.
What can I plant next to cantaloupe?
Companion plants for cantaloupe include corn, pumpkin, squash, collards, borage, oregano, radishes, marigolds, petunias and beans . Companion planting is based on the idea that certain plants are mutually beneficial when planted in near proximity.
Should I soak cantaloupe seeds before planting?
Cantaloupe seeds must be mature to germinate, so it’s best to only take seed from fully ripened fruit. ... Let the seeds soak at room temperature out of direct light for several days , stirring them occasionally to help dislodge the seeds from the sticky pulp.
Are melons easy to grow?
Types of Melons
Watermelons tend to be the easiest melons to grow in organic gardens because of their pest and disease resistance. American cantaloupes, properly called muskmelons because of their fruity fragrance, produce 75 to 85 days after planting.
Are melons in season now?
Honeydew melons are available all year round peaking in summer (January and February). The flesh of white skinned honeydews is sweeter, and has a higher level of natural sugars.
What melons are in season in winter?
Honeydew, casaba and Cavaillon melons are classed as winter melons because they ripen more slowly than other melons and are usually not ready until late fall. After harvest, they even continue to ripen in storage.
How do you know when melons are ripe?
As with cantaloupe, color is your first sign of ripeness. The melon’s green rind will take on a creamy yellowish color . If the color is right, gently push on the end of the melon opposite from the stem. If there is a slight give, the melon is probably ripe.
