How to Grow and Care for Honeydew in Your Garden

Honeydew melons grow best in hot, dry weather and warm soil.

• In hot climates, sow before the last frost. If you live in a hot-weather environment, sow your melon seeds in spring a few days before the last frost.
• In cold climates, start indoors. If you live in a cool-weather climate, start the seeds indoors at least three weeks before the last frost, then transplant the seedlings into your garden when the danger of frost is over.

Honeydew melons have a long growing season, which runs from early spring to early fall. Once your soil temperature reaches at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit, you can begin sowing honeydew seeds:

1. 1. Choose the site. Honeydew melons require ample space and full sun to thrive. Choose a sunny area with enough space to accommodate the plant’s vines.
2. 2. Prepare the soil bed. Honeydew melons prefer fertile, well-draining soil with organic matter. Before planting, work a few inches of organic matter like compost or aged manure into the soil. Use a soil test to assess your soil for deficiencies and acidity. You can amend the soil with organic solutions like compost, nutrient meals, or specific fertilizers.
3. 3. Set up trellises or mounds. 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).
4. 4. Plant the seeds. Sow seeds (or plant melon seedlings, if transplanting) on each mound or below each trellis, around ½ inch deep.
5. 5. Water. Honeydew melons are drought-intolerant so keep the soil moist while the seeds germinate, and the seedlings grow.
6. 6. Thin the seedlings. When the seedlings sprout at least two true leaves, you’ll need to use gardening shears to thin them back so that there are only two to three plants per mound or trellis.
7. 7. Mulch around the seedlings. After thinning your young plants, you should mulch around them to preserve moisture, retain warmth, and prevent weeds from sprouting.

Honeydew melon plants aren’t fussy or difficult to grow. To keep your melon vines happy:

• Water. Honeydews, just like other melons, can not tolerate dry soil, so be sure to keep the soil evenly moist throughout their growing season to ensure the melons grow to full size.
• Protect from the elements. Honeydew melons are a warm-weather crop that requires warm soil and temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit to grow. If your region expects a sudden dip in temperature, place row covers over your plants to protect them from the chill.
• Protect the fruit. While the honeydew plant is hardy, the melons themselves can be sensitive to the elements. Prolonged sun exposure can scald the fruit, so make sure that the wide leaves from the vines cover the melons, or cover with cardboard boxes to protect them from direct sunlight. If pests (like cucumber beetles and aphids) start to attack the melons, prop them off the ground slightly with wood boards or coffee cans to keep the melons out of reach. Propping the melons up will also help promote air circulation and prevent bacterial wilt and powdery mildew.
• Encourage pollination. Honeydew plants require pollination to produce fruit so you’ll need to uncover your plants when they start to flower. Avoid using pesticides, especially when they’re flowering because the chemicals can deter bees and other pollinators from visiting your crop.

Unlike other fruits, melons don’t continue to ripen a lot after separation from the vine, so you’ll need to be able to identify when your honeydews reach desired ripeness. Here are a few signs that your honeydew is ripe:

1. 1. Dry tendrils. The vine tendrils near the melon stem will turn brown and dry out.
2. 2. Yellow stem. The leaves near the stem of the melon will yellow.
3. 3. Dull rind. The melon rind will dull slightly and should be entirely even in color (either light green, pale yellow, or white).
4. 4. Hollow sound. Use your fingers to thump the melon gently. If it makes a deep and full sound, then the melon is ripe.

When your honeydew melons are ready to harvest, use garden shears to cut them from the vine near the stem. Unlike cantaloupe, honeydew will not release easily from the vine, even with a firm tug.

Whole ripe melons will store at room temperature up to a week or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. After you cut into the melon, eat it immediately or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator to prevent the melon from absorbing flavors from the surrounding air.

Grow your own food with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community - and the world - a better place.