Athena (F1) Melon Seed

Scientific name

Cucumis melo

Site and soil

Melons do best in light, well-drained soil close to neutral (pH about 7.0), ideally on a south-facing slope. Water steadily while vines are young and while fruit is setting, then hold back during the final week before ripening, since too much water at that stage dilutes flavor. Black plastic mulch and row cover give earlier, heavier crops, particularly in northern areas; take the cover off once female flowers (the ones with a tiny fruit behind the bloom) appear so bees can reach them.

Days to maturity

Counted from transplanting. Direct-sown melons need about 10 more days.

Starting transplants

Start seed about a month before plants go outside (late April in many areas), and not earlier, since older seedlings transplant poorly. Sow 1–2 seeds 1/4" deep per cell in 50-cell trays or per 2–3" biodegradable pot, keep them at 80–90°F (27–32°C) until they sprout, then thin to one and grow on at about 75°F (24°C). Never let the mix dry out. Harden off for a week with less water and cooler temperatures.

Transplanting

Plant out only after frost danger is past and the weather has turned reliably warm. Space plants 2–3' apart in rows 6' apart, or, if growing in pots, set them 18" apart. Even hardened seedlings are tender, so keep the root ball intact and water in well.

Direct sowing

Wait until 1–2 weeks after the last frost, when soil has reached at least 70°F (21°C). Sow 2–3 seeds 1/2" deep every 18" and thin to one plant.

Seeding rate

At 3 seeds every 18" in rows 6' apart: about 30 seeds per 10 ft., 1,000 per 500 ft. and 15,000 per acre.

Insect pests

Cucumber beetles are the main threat. Cover plants with floating row cover from transplanting day, or use an approved insecticide such as pyrethrin or azadirachtin.

Disease

Pick varieties with resistance to the diseases common where you farm. Late in summer, a cold snap on vines loaded with ripening fruit can trigger sudden wilt, where plants collapse almost overnight; good fertility and steady irrigation keep plants strong enough to avoid it.

Harvest

Signs of ripeness include a change in rind color, netting or cracking on the skin, a slight give at the blossom end, a browning or withered tendril or leaf next to the fruit, and a crack forming where the stem joins. Melons fall into three groups: "full slip" fruit comes off with a light tug, "forced slip" fruit needs a firmer pull, and "no slip" types must be cut from the vine.

Storage

Keep ripe netted melons at 36–41°F (2–5°C) and 90–95% humidity, and other types at 45–50°F (7–10°C) and 85–95% humidity. All will last a few days at room temperature but longer when cooled; storage life depends on the variety and how ripe the fruit was at picking.

Packet

30 seeds.

Seeds per lb.

About 15,800 on average.