Honeydew melon plants aren’t fussy or difficult to grow.
How long does it take to grow a honeydew?
Honeydew melons mature in 65 to 100 days, depending on the cultivar.
Where do honeydew melons grow best?
Cantaloupe and honeydew are warm-season crops that grow best at average air temperatures between 65 and 75 °F. It is best to plant when the soil temperature is at least 60 to 65 °F.
How do you grow honeydew at home?
Sow seeds ½ inches deep in seed-starting formula. Keep the soil moist at 70 degrees F. Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days. As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night.
How do you take care of a honeydew plant?
Cantaloupe and honeydew melons thrive in warm soil. Don’t plant until the ground temperature is above 70 degrees F, which typically occurs about the time peonies bloom in northern zones. Prior to planting, cover soil with plastic film to hasten soil warming.
How many melons will one plant produce?
To grow them successfully you need to provide them with warmth, water and food. They can be quite vigorous, so regular pruning is needed to keep them under control. Each plant should produce two to four melons.
Do honeydew melons need a trellis?
Honeydew melons grow vines that require a lot of surface area in the garden. These plants grow best either on raised mounds (six inches tall, spaced four to six feet apart) or on trellises (spaced three to four feet apart).
Can you grow melons in pots?
While you can grow full-size melons in containers, you’ll get the best results with dwarf cultivars that produce smaller fruits and shorter vines.
Can I plant cantaloupe and honeydew together?
The fruit can be pale yellow, light green or bright orange. Seeds fill the hollow centers. Try planting both cantaloupes and honeydews this year. They’re easy to grow and are planted the same way.
How long do honeydew melons take to ripen?
The indicators for when to begin harvesting honeydew melons are size, skin color (completely white or yellow), and smoothness, and the timing of about three months after planting. The fruit will indeed be hard and although mature, very probably not ripe.
Can you grow honeydew in pots?
Honeydew melons provide a sweet summer treat, but container growing requires special consideration for the long vines. You can grow honeydews in containers on balconies or porches if you provide the necessary support to train the vines vertically.
When should I start honeydew seeds?
Plan to start honeydew seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost in your area. Much advice leans on direct sowing honeydew seeds outdoors, which you can do after the soil warms and all threat of frost has passed. Check your growing zone’s final frost date before doing so.
What grows well with honeydew melon?
There are several plants that grow well with honeydew. It can be grown with basil, broccoli, corn, dill, garlic, and mint, just to name a few. The only crops you should not grow near honeydew are cantaloupe, cucumbers, and watermelon, all of which attract similar pests and spread similar diseases to each other.
How big do honeydew melons get?
A honeydew has a round to slightly oval shape, typically 15–22 cm (5.9–8.7 in) long. It generally ranges in weight from 1.8 to 3.6 kg (4.0 to 7.9 lb).
Does melons need a trellis?
You’ll need to be sure to install a trellis that will hold the weight of the melon vines and ripe fruit. Encourage the vines to climb by training them up a support system such as concrete reinforcing wire. Getting the vines up the trellis is only half of the job of growing melons vertically.
Where is honeydew grown in the US?
Honeydew does not ripen after it is harvested. Honeydew is known as the “bailan melon” in China. • California produces the majority of honeydew sold in the US. The honey rock melon is a cross between a honeydew and a cantaloupe.
How do you pinch a melon plant?
As soon as the plant has formed 3 to 5 leaves, you must pinch off its tip, snipping the main stem off with your fingers to trigger sending off of new shoots. After that, once the new stems have formed, pinch them off, too, after the 3rd leaf.
How do you support a melon plant?
In preparation for the melons to grow, create some support for them to grow around. You can use a single line of string tied to the inside of your greenhouse or have wooden support sticking out of the ground next to the melon. As the melon begins to grow tie your strongest shoot to the support you have set up.
Do melon seeds have to dry before planting?
Fresh cantaloupe seeds need to be dried and properly stored for future sowing. Spread the seeds on a sheet of newspaper or paper towels and set them in a warm, airy place to dry. To prevent mold and mildew growth on the seeds, stir them every day to ensure the whole seed is exposed to circulating air.
What can you not plant with melons?
Plants that don’t do well with melons include other cucurbits such as pumpkins, squash, summer and winter, and cucumbers. Also, avoid planting potatoes with your melons. Tomatoes and peppers don’t thrive with melons because melons take up so much space they crowd them out.
How deep do melon roots grow?
Planting Melons
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| Germination | 75 – 95 F |
| Seed Planting Depth | 1/2″ |
| Root Depth | Shallow in general, some up to 4′ |
| Height | 24″ |
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.