Honeydew melons have sweet, pale green flesh.
Honeydew melons grow from seed in a single season. This warm-weather annual thrives in a bright, sunny spot and deep, rich soil. Plant honeydew from seed in the spring or start seeds indoors in late winter. By the time summer rolls around, the honeydew ripen on the vine ready for harvest. Does this Spark an idea?
Starting Honeydew Melon Seeds
Get an early start on the growing season by starting honeydew melon seeds indoors in peat pots two to four weeks before the last frost date. Melon seeds take three to 10 days to germinate and another one to three weeks to grow large enough to transplant. Keep the seeds in an area that is between 68 and 86 F. Use a seed-starting heating mat, available at garden centers. if the air temperature in the seed starting area is not warm enough.
Planting and Transplanting
Plant seeds directly into the garden once the soil temperature rises above 68 F. Honeydew melon seeds germinate in eight to 10 days at 68 F, but waiting until the soil rises above 77 F reduces germination time to three or four days. Plant seeds 1/2 an inch deep and 18 inches apart to give the developing melon plants room to grow. Plant transplants out after the last frost date when the soil temperature rises above 65 F. Space transplants 18 inches apart. Plant melon seeds and transplants as soon as the conditions are right.
Growing Time and Care
Growing times vary depending on the cultivar and the heat conditions. Honeydew melons require 65 to 100 days or warm, frost-free weather to grow large enough to harvest. In areas where growing seasons are short, start seeds indoors. Determine the first frost date in the fall and calculate the number of frost-free days in the growing season. Plant honeydew melons early enough to give them time to ripen before the cold weather sets in.
Harvesting Melons
Weed the area around the honeydew melon plants by hand or with shallow strokes of a hoe. Melon plants have shallow root systems so be careful when using tools to weed. Keep the area consistently damp during germination and through the growing season. Water when the top 1 to 2 inch of the soil starts to dry out and soak the area at each watering. Harvest the melons when the skin turns from green to pale greenish-yellow. Honeydew melons are ripe when the fruit pulls easily away from the vine.
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