Want to impress your friends this summer? Why not grow melons? We have seeds for several from Botanical Interests, a family-owned company. And now is the time to sow seeds outside: 1 to 2 weeks after average last frost, and when soil temperature is at least 70°F, ideally 70 to 90°F.
What we call cantaloupes with their bumpy skin and orange flesh are really muskmelons. (True cantaloupes are hard-shelled melons from Europe.) Honeydew melons, in contrast, have smooth skin, green flesh, and a different scent. Muskmelons stop ripening after being picked from the vine and should be eaten right away, but honeydews will continue to ripen a bit (for up to a month), though vine-ripening is best.
Melons use a lot of water while they are growing, but taste best if ripened under drier conditions. Set ripening fruit on a soft bed of straw or a coffee can to keep moisture from damaging the fruit. Melons also grow well on a trellis, which saves space and increases airflow, helping to prevent fungal diseases. Instructions for growing are printed on the Botanical Interests seed packets.
When it’s time to harvest, try these summer melon cocktails.