(513) 554-GROW (4769)

We offer 3 different varieties of melons in our Homegrown Gourmet line of veggies: Ambrosia (cantaloupe), Lambkin (All-America Selections Winner), and Crimson Sweet (watermelon). Melons are full of vitamin C and are up to 94% water.

Soil Preparation:

• Choose a spot that receives 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day.
• Till the soil in early spring, removing rocks, roots and other debris. Add compost material to the soil.
• Wait until after last frost to plant.
• Melons prefer warm, well-drained soil.
• Soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0 is recommended.
• Space plants 4 to 6 feet apart.
• Mulch after planting to keep soil warm, suppress weeds and keep moisture consistent.

Watering:

• Consistent, plentiful moisture is needed until the fruit is the size of a tennis ball.
• Requires a minimum of 1 inch of water per week.
• Water in the morning so leaves are dry by evening.
• Cut back on watering about 3 weeks before harvest; fruit will be sweeter if the plant finishes on the "dry" side.

Maintenance:

• Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with an all-purpose fertilizer.
• To protect from insects, place fruit on pieces of wood while developing.
• The best and sweetest melons ripen when the weather is hot and dry.
• To harvest, sniff the skin and if it smells like melon, it's ready to pick.
• Another way to tell if they are ready is if the stem slips easily from the vine.
• Ambrosia are ready when the skin changes from green to tan-yellow between the veins.
• Poor flavor is most likely due to weather - cloudy during ripening; too hot; too much or too little rain.

Supplies Needed:

• Garden Trowel
• Garden Hose or Watering Can
• Compost
• Homegrown Gourmet? Plants
• Shovel
• Fertilizer
• Gardening Gloves

Other Information:

History -

Melons have been enjoyed for more than 4,000 years, but the first documented use of the word "melon" was in 1395. The word melon comes from "Melos" - the Greek Cyclades Islands, best known for the Venus de Milo.

Did You Know... -

Surprisingly, melons have never been found growing in the wild. They are believed to have originated in the hot valleys of Southwest Asia.