How long does a melon take to grow?
Written by
Liu Xiaohui
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.The most effective way to grow melons presupposes knowledge of the plants' biological clock, most types of melons require 80 to 100 days (for example) after transplanting from seed to "ready to eat." Using a soil warming method, I grew ‘Golden Midget' watermelons from seed to ripe in 68 days. However, for gardeners in cold climates, you will want to find 65-day hybrids such as the ‘Early Silver Line'.
Soil Temperature
- 70°F (21°C) minimum for germination
- Black plastic mulch accelerates warming by 10 days
- Row covers maintain 5-7°F higher nighttime temps
Sunlight Exposure
- 8+ daily hours for optimal growth
- Reflective mulches boost light by 20%
- Prune shading leaves after fruit set
The timing of pollination affects harvest timing. I manually pollinate the female flowers from dawn using a paintbrush, which ensures fruit will set five days sooner than natural (bee) pollination. Monitor progress by weight: once the melons' vines are banking energy instead in foliage, the fruit will gain 1lb (0.45kg) every two days.
Avoid delays by checking soil moisture using a tensiometer. My drip system provides each plant with 1.5 gallons per week until the fruit reaches the size of a softball. If I provide too much water in weeks 6 P 8, the fruit can split. If I provide too little water, growth will permanently cease. You must find a happy medium.
Read the full article: How to Grow Melons: 9 Essential Steps for Success
