Planting cantaloupe & watermelon

[Todd Ziegler]

I am replanting my watermelon & cantaloupe and I thought I would ask everyone how do you plant yours? Hills, rows etc. I am always looking to improve my gardening techniques and love to hear from you all. I might learn something new.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I build up a hill maybe 4" to 5" high, plant maybe three seeds, then move on to another hill a few feet away. We discussed this a few years back, someone gave a reason that planting on hills was better, but I can't remember that reason.

I went to look it up. Hills heat up faster so you should get better germination plus they drain better. Melons do better with good drainage.

 

[Todd Ziegler]

I build up a hill maybe 4" to 5" high, plant maybe three seeds, then move on to another hill a few feet away. We discussed this a few years back, someone gave a reason that planting on hills was better, but I can't remember that reason.

I went to look it up. Hills heat up faster so you should get better germination plus they drain better. Melons do better with good drainage.

I like that idea. What I have been doing is planting 4 or 5 seeds in a circle and then move a few feet over. I never made the hill. Do you water your seeds in or just wait for nature to do it.

 

[seedcorn]

Rows for me. Why? No reason, just do.

 

[Todd Ziegler]

Rows for me. Why? No reason, just do.

I decided to plant one in rows and one in hills. Btw you are right, you don't need a reason for everything.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The reason I hill them is because my daddy did. Probably the reason he hilled them was because his daddy did, but that's supposition.

 

[Nyboy]

Is that how name Hillbilly started ? in garden>

 

[majorcatfish]

Is that how name Hillbilly started ? in garden>

not even going to touch that one......

 

[Mauldintiger]

I'm 66 and always hilled until this year. Very spotty germination, @Ridgerunner nailed it, warmer and better drainage with hills. I think a raised row would be OK for the same reason.

 

[majorcatfish]

I'm 66 and always hilled until this year. Very spotty germination, @Ridgerunner nailed it, warmer and better drainage with hills. I think a raised row would be OK for the same reason.

all joking a side started my melon seeds inside then tempered them then transplanted them....<so far 100% rate>..
will find out if that holds with the orange seedless watermelon...<of course this is one of my experiments this year