Melons

Melons are part of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants and are related to squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers. They are a sweet and fleshy fruit that comes in many varieties such as cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew, and muskmelon, just to name a few. Melons are a vining plant that need room to spread out and grow. The size and shape of the melon depends on the type being grown, but the largest watermelon ever grown was over 350lbs according to Guinness World Records. Melons that are allowed to ripen on the vine are much sweeter and just taste better than those from the supermarkets. We love growing melons in our vegetable garden, give them a try.

Melons need heat and need plenty of room to grow. In northern climates start melons indoors a couple of week before the last frost. Sow at a depth of 1/2" (13mm). Harden off before transplanting outdoors, and make sure you prepare the soil with a good amount of compost and well rotted manure. Soil temperatures should be above 70 degrees F (21C) for seedlings, located in full sun. Space melons a minimum of 18" (46cm) apart. Keep soil consistently moist but not water logged to avoid root rot. 

For more on growing melons in the vegetable garden see this video on How to Grow Melons.

If you needed more information feel free to check out the University of Minnesota Extension or the West Virginia Extension service  on growing melons for the vegetable garden.