Melons: your ultimate guide to growing juicy summer fruits

Photo by Inguna Pempere

Melons are juicy, sweet, and refreshing. They do stand in front of everyone's favorite summer produce items. Growing your melons will be a great satisfaction because you’ll get delicious fruits and a sense of fulfillment.

When to sow melons

Melons are very sensitive to weather conditions, making it a prime factor to consider when planting their seeds. Only sow melon seeds when frost is no longer a threat, ensuring temperatures surpass 70°F (21°C). Location-dependent, this may be late spring or early summer. For an early jump, sow the seeds inside about 3-4 weeks prior to your last expected frost date.

Time of germination

The germination of melon seeds should take 7 to 14 days at 77°F (25°C). A warm and damp soil ensures that the development of the seeds is done quickly and well. If you sow seeds directly in your indoor location, a heat mat for seedlings helps sustain the temperature required by them.

From sowing to harvesting

Melons require an average of 70-90 days from sowing to harvest, with this period depending on the cultivar and growing conditions. In general, melons require a warm and lengthy growth season to do well and fully mature.

How to grow melons

Soil Preparation

They do well on fertile, well-drained soil that has a pH of 7. By the time planting time arrives, melons will thrive in this soil. Melons, therefore, need heavy feeding. Building an environment full of nutrients for these plants is necessary.

Planting

Leave a space of 2 to 3 feet (80 cm) between plants for proper air circulation and room for the vines’ coverage. If you have limited space, consider using vertical trellises to support the vines and save garden space.

Watering

Melons need to be watered properly, with the best care during flowering and fruit development. The soil of the plants should receive deep but frequent waterings to maintain an equal moisture level without being soggy. Mulching around the plants also aids in moisture retention and weed management.

Fertilizing

Fertilize melons when the vines are running with 10-10-10 or another balanced fertilizer. Excessive nitrogen can make plants grow a lot of foliage at the cost of fruits. For a bountiful harvest, feed the plants every 3 to 4 weeks with compost or another balanced organic fertilizer.

How, when to pick melons

It's good to know the point in time when melons need to be picked for the best flavor and texture. Some indications that your melons are ready to harvest include the following:

Cantaloupes

"Netting" on the skin becomes more pronounced, the color changes from green to yellowish, and the fruit easily slips off the vine with a slight tug.

Honeydews

Creamy-yellow skin, the blossom ends slightly soft to the touch.

Key factors to consider when growing melons

Insects and diseases

Cucumber beetles, aphids, squash bugs are common melon pests. Look at your plants throughout the growing season and use organic or chemical controls to deal with pests. Melons are very susceptible to several diseases such as powdery mildew. A good amount of circulation of the air, avoiding overhead irrigations, and resistant cultivars will help promote lower risk of disease.

Pollination

This is because melons need to be pollinated for them to bear fruit. Help the pollenizers – such as bees – along by fertilizing plants with flowers next to them and avoiding pesticides during flowering.

What melons like

Temperature

Melons require a very warm temperature and full sunlight.

Nutrient-rich soil

Adequate organic matter and well-balanced fertilizers should be added.

Constant moisture

Keep the soil constantly moist but with good drainage.

What melons don’t like

Low Temperatures

Frost and cold weather may be injurious to the plants and also hinder growth.

Waterlogged soil

Poor drainage can lead to root rot and other issues.

Crowding

Provide enough space to reduce disease and promote good growth.

Varieties of melons

Cantaloupe: Known by its reticulated rind and sweet orange flesh.

Honeydew: Smooth-skinned melons with sweet, green flesh.

Galia: Netted rind with aromatic, sweet flesh.

Canary: Yellow skin, sweet, pale flesh.

Melon companions and non-companions

Companion planting with melons encourages healthy growth and deters unwanted pests or diseases. Here is a complete explanation of plants that like and don't like to grow with melons.

Melon Companions

Some plants can improve the growth of melons, while others attract helpful insects or deter pests:

Corn

Corn supplies shade for the melon vines and protects them from the wind, thereby saving the moisture and producing some sort of microclimate.

Beans

The beans are a rich source of nitrogen fixation in the soil. This in turn enriches the soil and promotes healthy melon growth.

Radishes

These will repel cucumber beetles, which are destructive to melons.

Marigolds

Marigolds chase away the nematodes and other insect pests from the soil and, hence, laying the melon roots and foliage safe.

Lettuce

Lettuce grows quickly and can be cropped before melons have spread their vines out in the garden, so optimizing garden space.

Onions

Onions repel the aphids and other pests away from melon plants.

Garlic

Similar to onions, garlic proves to be a natural pesticide, particularly against aphids and other insects.

Peas

Similar to beans, peas fix nitrogen in the soil, thereby enhancing the growth of melons.

Nasturtiums

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and other pests; they attract pollinators.

Plants to avoid near melons

Some plants compete with melons for nutrition, others attract certain pests, and some just interfere with their development. Do not plant these near your melons:

Potatoes

Both potatoes and melons are heavy feeders and may struggle over the same food, fatiguing the plant. In addition, some of the pests for the potatoes become attracted to the melons, as well.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are close relatives to melons, and hence they attract the same type of pests and diseases, increasing the risk of infestation and infections.

Squashes

Much like cucumbers, these compete for exactly the same nutrients and are affected by the same pests and diseases as melons.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins bear long running vines that could invade the melon plants, end up disputing their space, sunlight, and food.

Zucchini

This happens to be yet another plant, which in a way creates competition for the same matters and attracts the same pests, making it less desirable to plant near any melon plants.

Fennel

Fennel produces compounds that inhibit the growth of other plants when planted near them – including melons.

Brassicas

These are plants like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower that are heavy feeders and can deplete the nutrients in the soil that melons require. They also attract pests to melons, just like other plants.

More Companion Planting Tips

This can be said to be diversity: planting diverse types of companions creates a garden ecosystem that is more resilient in nature, decreasing pest problems and raising soil health.

Crop Rotation

The practice of crop rotation to avoid soil depletion at the same time reduces the growth of pests and diseases.