Last summer I tossed some cantaloupe seeds and peels into the garden to compost down. Lucky for me I got some volunteer plants! These developed into cute little cantaloupes that tasted quite good. Learning how to grow and save melon seeds isn’t hard. Here’s how you can do it on purpose!
How To Grow Melons
Melons are vines, so you will want to plan a space for them that has plenty of room. They’ll also enjoy full sun. And as warm weather plants, wait to plant them until there is no chance of frost.
Melons are traditionally planted in hills. Put 4-6 seeds in each hill about one inch deep into the soil, and space your hills up to six feet apart.
They will need plenty of regular watering during their growing season. They will need to cross pollinate with each other, so it’s nice to have some flowers such as nasturtiums and marigolds to attract pollinators nearby. They will get along rather well with just about any other plants, however.
Some of the more delicate melons like honeydew may need raised off the ground with a net or trellis. Look for signs that it’s time to harvest. These can happen as early as 70 days for some varieties and as late as 90 days for others. Indicators it’s time to harvest include color changes in the rind, yellowing where your melons touch the ground, wilting vines, and a melon-y scent. You should also be able to pull it from the stem with only a little effort.
Melons don’t last very long, so use them right away as they ripen.
How To Save Melon Seeds
Melons are one of the easiest seeds to save. The only thing that can be tricky is because they cross pollinate, you will need to plant just one type in your garden if you are planning to save seeds for next year.
Related Post: You Can Save Your Own Tomato Seeds
When you harvest and eat your melons, separate the seeds and rinse them. Once the pulp is gone, spread the seeds onto a paper towel or napkin and allow them to dry for about a week. Once they are dry, place them in a dark, dry, cool place for storage.
And that’s it! Next year plant your awesome melon seeds and do it all over again!
Sources:
https://www.seedsavers.org/grow-melon
https://www.nativeseeds.org/blogs/blog-news/how-to-save-watermelon-seeds
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