How to Grow Melons in Florida
Florida summers were made for melons. Give them room, sun and the right variety and you'll be cutting watermelon by summer.
Watermelon and cantaloupe love heat and a long warm season, so they are a spring planting in Florida, sized up for summer harvest.
When to plant in Florida
| Region | Sow |
|---|---|
| North Florida | Mar-Apr |
| Central Florida | Feb-Mar |
| South Florida | Jan-Mar |
Varieties
- Watermelon: 'Crimson Sweet' and 'Jubilee' (disease-tolerant), 'Sugar Baby' (compact icebox).
- Cantaloupe: 'Ambrosia' (very sweet), 'Athena' (eastern type, disease-tolerant for humidity).
How to grow it
- Full sun, room to run, rich well-drained soil and steady water while sizing fruit.
- Mulch to keep fruit clean and conserve moisture in sandy soil.
- Ease off water as melons ripen to concentrate sugars.
Pests & problems
Downy and powdery mildew thrive in humidity; pickleworm and aphids visit. Choose tolerant varieties, give airflow, and water at the roots in the morning.
Harvest
Watermelon: the curly tendril nearest the fruit browns and the ground spot turns creamy yellow. Cantaloupe: it "slips" (separates from the stem with a gentle tug) and smells sweet.
Source: UF/IFAS Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103).
When to plant in your region
Pick your region to see the planting months for melons where you garden.
See also: Watermelon in the plant library →
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