AllotMe
GROWING GUIDES
Melon
Fruit
Hard
Planting Schedule
Month by month
Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Harvest
Sow Seeds Indoors
Sow seeds indoors from mid-April, on their side, 2cm deep. Keep at 20-25°C. Essential to start under cover in the UK.
Outdoors
Plant out under glass (greenhouse/polytunnel) from late May, or outdoors in a very sheltered spot from early June under cloches.
Harvest
Ripe when the melon smells fragrant at the stalk end and the stalk starts to crack. Cantaloupe types are easiest in the UK.
Month by month
Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Harvest
How to Sow
- Sow seeds on their side, 2cm deep in 8cm pots
- Keep at 20-25°C for germination (usually 5-7 days)
- Grow on in bright, warm conditions
- Harden off carefully before planting out
- In a greenhouse, train up strings or a support frame; outdoors, let vines trail over warm soil
Plant Care
- Water regularly but avoid wetting the stems which causes rot
- Feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser once fruits set
- Pollinate by hand if growing under glass — transfer pollen from male to female flowers with a soft brush
- Allow only 4-5 fruits per plant for good-sized melons
- Place ripening fruit on a tile or straw to prevent rot from wet soil
AllotMe’s Tips
- Cantaloupe varieties like 'Sweetheart' are the most reliable for UK growing — they need less heat than honeydew or watermelon types
- A cold frame or cloche over black polythene mulch creates a warm microclimate that makes outdoor melons viable in the south of England
- Melons are a fun challenge but manage expectations — this is the UK, not the Med! A greenhouse makes all the difference
Delete Tip?
This can't be undone and it will be removed from the category page and from AllotMe search
results.
Share your instagram handle to let people follow more of your tips!
Our community's top tips on growing Melon
No tips have been shared yet :(
