Melon Seed Varieties

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Melon Type: Watermelon Variety: Crimson Sweet Family: Cucurbita Botanical Name: Cucurbita citrullus Hardiness Zones: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 Growing Difficulty:  3 Soil PH:  5.5 to 6.5 Fertilizer Requirements: Nitrogen Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 3 to 10               Soil Temp for Germination: 80-95°F Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN Days to Maturity:  80-85 Planting Depth:  1/4” Distance Apart (in row):  6-8ft Row Spacing: 6-8ft Sowing Instructions IN WARM CLIMATES – DIRECT SOW WHEN SOIL TEMPS ARE ABOVE 75°F Starting Indoors IN COOL CLIMATES – 3 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST – TRANSPLANT 1 WEEK AFTER LAST FROST Growing Tips Plant your watermelons in full sun, with rich and loose soil. Young starts may benefit from black plastic to bring the soil up to temperature quicker. Once the vines begin to develop, spread a layer of mulch to keep the soil moist, control weeds, and prevent the melons from too much contact with the soil. Keep the soil moist until the fruits begin to grow, only water the plants once the soil dries out completely after fruiting. Make sure to keep an eye out for pests, as they can be harmful to developing melons. Culinary Uses Watermelon makes the best summertime treats, harvest your melons and bring them directly inside to be sliced or balled. Harvesting Crops Everyone has their own way of determining when a watermelon is ripe, but there are a couple sure-fire ways to know that you are harvesting the melon at the peak of maturity. Turn the melon slightly to see the color of the skin touching the mulch, if it is yellow, the melon is ready to be harvested. You may also knock on the melon, listening for a dull thump instead of a hollow ring. The last way to check ripeness is to look at the tendril closest to the stem. If this is turning brown, your melon is ripe and ready for picking. Watermelons will keep for several weeks in a cool place out of direct sunlight. Harvesting Seed Be cautious when planting your watermelons, as they will cross-pollinate with other watermelon varieties easily. When the watermelon is ripe and ready for harvest, the seeds are mature enough to save. Cut the melon to remove the seeds. Wash them thoroughly to remove the sticky residue. Spread them out on a flat dry surface to dry for roughly one week. Once dried and safely stored, they should be viable for up to four years depending on how you store them.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Melon Type: Cantaloupe Variety: Hale’s Best Jumbo Family: Cucurbits Botanical Name: Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Growing Difficulty:  5         Soil PH:  6.0 to 7.0                 Fertilizer Requirements:  10-10-10 Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 5 to 10 Soil Temp for Germination: 60-80°F Lighting Conditions: Full Sun Days to Maturity:  70 – 75    Planting Depth:  1” Distance Apart (in row):  24" Row Spacing: 48-72"   Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW 1-2 WEEKS AFTER DANGER OF LAST FROST Starting Indoors 2-4 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST IN BIO-DEGRADABLE POTS Growing Tips Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe is a favorite of most gardeners. If you are planting directly in the garden, wait at least a week or two after last frost. Hill planting works best, you can place up to 6 seeds per hill and thin to the best 3 plants per hill after they get established. If starting indoors, these melons will need to be started in peat pots as they do not transplant well. Use mulch around the plants once transplanted or once seedlings sprout in the garden. This keeps the soil moist, warm and helps to suppress weed growth. Culinary Uses Commonly served cut or balled, great on a hot summer day. Harvesting Crops Wait until the harvest date approaches, your cantaloupe should turn a yellowish orange color. Check the end where the stem attaches to see if it is just slightly soft (if so, it's ready for harvest). When the melons are ripe and ready to pick, they should come off the stem quite easily. Melons will need harvested daily once they begin to ripen. Make sure to refrigerate the melons immediately after harvesting. Harvesting Seed Harvest your seeds from the best performing melons. Wash the seeds off and allow to dry in a paper bag for a few weeks. Once completely dried, safely store your seeds in a cool dry place for use next season.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Melon Type: Honeydew Variety: Orange Flesh Family: Cucurbits Botanical Name: Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 Growing Difficulty:  5         Soil PH:  6.0 to 6.5 Fertilizer Requirements:  10-10-10 Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 5 to 10 Soil Temp for Germination: 60-80°F Lighting Conditions: Full Sun Days to Maturity:  100 – 110    Planting Depth:  1” Distance Apart (in row):  24" Row Spacing: 48-72"   Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW 1-2 WEEKS AFTER DANGER OF LAST FROST Starting Indoors 2-4 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST IN BIO-DEGRADABLE POTS Growing Tips Hill planting is the best method for growing Honeydew melons. You should mound the soil to about 10 inches high, with mounds being about 6 feet apart. Sow up to 6 seeds per mound, and thin to the best 3-4 plants after they are established. Seeds should be sown in a circle around the top of the mound at about 1 inch deep. Water well during growth period but stop watering about 3 weeks prior to harvest. Make sure to water early in the morning (never at night) to prevent the leaves from being water covered overnight. This will help to prevent pests and disease. Culinary Uses Commonly served cut or balled, great on a hot summer day. Harvesting Crops Unlike traditional cantaloupes, honeydew melons are ready to harvest when the rind turns white or yellow. They will not easily come off the vine when mature (like traditional cantaloupe), so you will need to watch for the signs of maturity. They will continue to ripen for several days at room temperature after they are picked, so refrigeration is a good idea. Harvesting Seed Harvest your seeds from the best performing melons. Wash the seeds off and allow to dry in a paper bag for a few weeks. Once completely dried, safely store your seeds in a cool dry place for use next season.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Melon Type: Honeydew Variety: Green Flesh Family: Cucurbits Botanical Name: Cucumis melo Hardiness Zones: 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 Growing Difficulty:  5         Soil PH:  6.0 to 6.8 Fertilizer Requirements:  10-10-10 Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 5 to 10 Soil Temp for Germination: 65-75°F Lighting Conditions: Full Sun Days to Maturity:  100 – 110    Planting Depth:  1/2” Distance Apart (in row):  24" Row Spacing: 48-72"   Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW 1-2 WEEKS AFTER DANGER OF LAST FROST Starting Indoors 2-4 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST IN BIO-DEGRADABLE POTS Growing Tips Hill planting is the best method for growing Honeydew melons. You should mound the soil to about 10 inches high, with mounds being about 6 feet apart. Sow up to 6 seeds per mound, and thin to the best 3-4 plants after they are established. Seeds should be sown in a circle around the top of the mound at about 1/2 inch deep. Water well during growth period but stop watering about 3 weeks prior to harvest. Make sure to water early in the morning (never at night) to prevent the leaves from being water covered overnight. This will help to prevent pests and disease. Culinary Uses Green Flesh Honeydew Melons are trending as a great smoothie option on a hot summer day. They make an excellent dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan friendly drink. These melons are also commonly served cut or balled, great on a hot summer day. Harvesting Crops Unlike traditional cantaloupes, honeydew melons are ready to harvest when the rind turns white or yellow. They will not easily come off the vine when mature (like traditional cantaloupe), so you will need to watch for the signs of maturity. They will continue to ripen for several days at room temperature after they are picked, so refrigeration is a good idea. Harvesting Seed Harvest your seeds from the best performing melons. Wash the seeds off and allow to dry in a paper bag for a few weeks. Once completely dried, safely store your seeds in a cool dry place for use next season.