Basics
- Ease of Growing
- Moderate
- Grown as
- Annual
- Days to Maturity
- 74-88 (Spring/Summer)
- Growing Habit
- Vine
- Hardiness
- Very Tender
Melons can't tolerate cold weather.
- Crops
- Spring Transplant, Summer
- Growing Season
- Long
- Cultivar Type
- -
- Growing Conditions
- Warm, Hot
Melons must have hot weather (ideally 90 F) if they are to make the sugar needed to produce sweet fruits. In cooler areas you need to give them as much sun and heat as possible. They should also be sheltered from cool winds.
If Melons don't get enough heat they won't taste very good (even if you do grow them successfully.)
- Outdoor Growing Temp
- 65°F - 95°F
- Min Outdoor Soil Temp
- 70°F
Melons need warm weather, so don’t plant them until all danger of frost is past and the soil temperature is at least 70˚ F.
- Start Indoors
- Yes
- Start Outdoors
- Yes
- Light
- Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Warm, Hot)
Melons need full sun.
- Water
- Moderate
Melons are quite shallow rooted, so need fairly constant water. The best way to water them is with a drip system or soaker hose, as they don't like having wet leaves (this encourages fungus disease).
- Feeder
- Heavy
Melons are fairly hungry plants. They don't like a lot of nitrogen, but they do need plenty of phosphorus and potassium.
- Suitability
- High heat, Needs lots of space
- Small Gardens?
- No
- Containers?
- Yes, but will need a large one, like a half wine barrel
Though it's not ideal, the smaller cultivars can be grown in large containers (at least 18" deep and preferably bigger). This is sometimes done in cool climates, where the plants are grown in greenhouses.
- Attracts beneficial insects?
- No
- Color
- Tan
- Fruit Size
- 5.0 - 6.0"
- Plant Height
- 12.0 - 18.0"
- Plant Diameter
- 36.0 - 48.0"
- Hardiness Zone
- 4-11
- Disease Resistance
- -
- Taste Profile
Extremely sweet with a rich Cantaloupe flavor.
- Rotation Group
- Fruits: Solanaceae + Cucurbits