Gardening: Growing Honeydew Melons
How to Grow Honeydew in Your Garden
*** Easy to Grow ***
Honeydew Melon is enjoyed best as a fresh, sweet sweet summer fruit. Even the Romans enjoyed growing melons! The most popular varieties are honeydew and cantaloupe. All varieties need hot summers and a long growing period.
Nutrition (back to top)
Honeydew melons are a good source of dietary fiber, Niacin, Vitamin B6, A, C, Folate and Potassium.
Climate & Growing Conditions (back to top)
Choose a site that gets full sun and good air circulation. Make sure the spot is protected from strong winds - melons won't perform at all if they're cold.
Container Gardening: (back to top)
Honeydew melons can do well as container plants, but be sure to pick a compact variety. You'll need a large container that's at least 2 feed deep and that allows drainage. Your soil requirements should be the same as below (pH of 6 to 7, and plenty of compost). Water the honeydew melon plants often (from underneath the leaves, if possible), and feed twice a month with a liquid fertilizer like manure tea.
How to Prepare the Garden Soil (back to top)
Mix in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure with your soil to ensure fertility and good drainage. (You may want to consider construction raised beds if your climate is cold, humid or your soil is heavy.) Test the pH of your soil. The pH should be from 6.0 to 7.0.
Make hills (mounds) of dirt, approx 3 feet in diameter. This garden plant requires a lot of space, so allow 4 to 5 feet of space between mounds.
Gardening Advice Tip: Many gardeners have good success with melons by covering the mounds with black plastic (be sure to stake it firmly and securely to the ground). The black plastic keeps moisture in the ground for the plant's roots, it keeps weeds out, and it also retains heat to keep the roots of this heat-loving plant happy. (Just make sure it doesn't shift to cover up your seedlings.)
If you don't use black plastic, be sure to mulch well with straw (leaving uncovered spaces for the seedlings.)
How to Plant Honeydew Melons (back to top)
If planting directly in the garden soil, wait until you've had your last frost. Honeydew Melons don't tolerate frost or chilly temperatures well. Also, the seeds won't germinate unless the ground is warm (ground temperature should be around 70 degrees).
Plant the seeds in a circle around each mound, setting the seed about 1" deep and covering with soil. After the seedlings immerge, thin to 3 healthy plants per hill (mound).
You can start the seeds inside, approximately 1 month ahead of when you want to transplant them outside. Again, wait until after you've had your last frost before planting them outside.
Don't forget to harden off your seedlings, by gradually introducing them to the out-of-doors. Introducing them too quickly to the bright sun and harsh weather will damage your tender seedlings.
When planting your seedlings, simply cut a slit in the plastic sheet (if you're using the black plastic). Dig a hole in the dirt where the plastic was, and plant your seedling (I like to plant them nearly up to their first set of leaves).
Water thoroughly.
Gardening Advice Tip: Slide a flat stone under each melon, once it's about half grown. This can help keep it from rotting prematurely.
How to Water (back to top)
Honeydew melons do not respond well to drought. Once they start producing fruit, you can cut back on watering. The theory is that the fruit will have better flavor if you don't water too much during the week or two before you harvest.
How to Fertilize (back to top)
Fertilize every few weeks with a liquid fertilizer such as compost tea.
Challenges (back to top)
Melons are susceptible to several plant diseases. You may wish to try varieties that are promoted as "resistant" to such things as Fusarium, and Powdery Mildew.
Most diseases can be prevented by rotating your crop from year to year, and by keeping your soil enriched with well-rotted organic matter and compost.
How to Harvest Honeydew Melons (back to top)
Wait until melons are fully ripe before you harvest them . They won't ripen off the vine.
The melons are ready to harvest when the skin turns white (with a slight twist, a ripened melon slips from the stem). Although, it's better to use a sharp knife when cutting them from the vine. Plan to pick your melons in the morning on a dry day. Be careful to not damage the vines, so you don't hinder future production.
Storage:(back to top)
Store honeydew melons in a cool, humid location away from direct sunlight. (Note: these will not generally store well for more than a few weeks)
Gardening Tips (back to top)
Have a helpful gardening tip (or even a fun story) to share about your honeydew melon growing experience? Share it with us at: gardeningtips@howtogardenadvice.com
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