Melon Growing Guide: from seed to kitchen

How to Grow Melons – Rockmelon, Honeydew Friends

The essential guide to growing Watermelon  (Cucumis melo) from seed; with notes on germination, cultivation, harvest and even kitchen uses. 

A quick taste-tour of the tribe:

• Rockmelon / Cantaloupe: salmon-orange flesh, musky sweetness, perfect for breakfast bowls and prosciutto wraps (eg. Hales Best).
• Honeydew: pale green to white flesh, delicately floral, great in fruit salads or chilled soups (eg. Honey Dew)
• Galia & Charentais: aromatic, tropical-flavoured hybrids, smaller fruit, restaurant favourite.

Most kitchen uses overlap: fresh slices, smoothies, salsa, or roasted with spices for desserts.

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Ave. Seeds per Gram: ≈ 30 – 45 seeds / g

Germinating Temperature: 20 – 32 °C (best 25–30 °C); emergence in 7–12 days.

Feed Requirements:

• Moderate to heavy.
• Prepare beds with plenty of compost; side-dress with a balanced organic fertiliser when vines begin to run, then again at fruit set.

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Growing Notes:

Climate & Timing:

• Warm-season crop that dislikes frost and prolonged humidity.
• Sow/direct-plant when soil is ≥18 °C.
• In cool districts start seed in pots 3–4 weeks before last frost and transplant once soil and nights have warmed.

Spacing & Depth:

• Sow 2 seeds 2 cm deep every 60 cm in rows 1.5 m apart, thinning to one plant.
• In cooler regions start indoors (see above).
• Trellising works for smaller varieties; support fruit.

General Care:

• Keep evenly moist during early growth, switching to deep but less-frequent watering 1-2 weeks before harvest. 
• Pinch excess laterals so each plant carries 3–5 fruit.
• Mulch when young to deter weeds and maintain soil warmth.

Common Problems & Pests:

• Powdery mildew — choose resistant varieties, apply potassium bicarbonate at first sign.
• Cucumber beetles & aphids — monitor and use organic insecticidal soap.
• Uneven ripening / bland flavour — ensure consistent heat and avoid over-watering late in the season.

Harvesting Notes:

When to Harvest:

• Rockmelon: fruit slips cleanly from stem and netting is pronounced; underside changes from green to creamy-yellow.
• Honeydew & others: slight softening at blossom end and subtle colour shift; skin waxy, not glossy.

How to Harvest:

• Lift gently and twist (rockmelon) or cut stem leaving 2 cm stub.
• Handle carefully to avoid bruising.

Storage & Use:

• Cantaloupe keeps 5–7 days at 2–5 °C;
• Honeydew store 2–3 weeks.
• Chill before serving for maximum sweetness.
• Freeze purée for sorbet or dry thin slices for chewy snacks.

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Key Benefits:

• Rich in vitamins A & C, hydration superstar.
• Sprawling vines shade soil, suppressing weeds.
• Perfect companion for kids’ gardens — nothing beats slicing open a melon you grew yourself.

Growing your own melons guarantees a “sweet” return on investment — and unlike store-bought, these ones don’t need a passport to reach your plate!