How to Grow Honeydew: Planting, Spacing, Care & Harvest

Quick answer

Start indoors 6 weeks before set-out at frost-free date (USU). Transplant or direct sow after frost / soil ≥65°F. Footnote: with plastic mulch and row covers, USU allows about 2 weeks before last frost (−2). Not the same page as cantaloupe.

Honeydew at a glance

PlantStart indoors: 6 wk before last frost; Transplant / direct sow: last frost
SunFull sun; fertile well-drained (USU).
WaterWater 1–2 inches/week deep/infrequent; reduce as fruit ripens for flavor.
SpacingUSU: seed 1–1½ inches deep; 4–6 seeds in mounds 4 ft apart; thin to 2 plants/mound.
Days to harvest45+ days flowering to mature fruit (USU); longer season than cantaloupe
-7-6-5-4-3-2-1LF+1+2+3
■ Start indoors   ■ Plant out   ■ Harvest
Weeks relative to last frost (LF). Colored weeks show when our ZIP planner schedules each step.
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Updated

Planting dates for your ZIP: the ZIP planting planner counts each window from your local frost dates.

Organic pests and diseases: see also organic pest control. Use any product as the label directs.

Honeydew / winter melon (Cucumis melo Inodorus Group). Same species as cantaloupe but a different group — keep cantaloupe as a separate page.

Honeydew melon
Honeydew melon. Photo: Yotoen, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (resized).

Planting timing

USU: “Winter melons should be planted when soils are 65°F or after all frost danger has past.” “Allow 6 weeks to grow transplants.” With plastic mulch and row covers, “seeds or plants can be set out about 2 weeks before the last frost date.” Winter melons commonly need a 2–4 week longer season than cantaloupe — transplants preferred. (USU honeydew) Planner: Start indoors last frost −6; Transplant / direct sow last frost 0. Footnote: plastic + covers early set-out last frost −2 — remove covers at flower / heat. Do not copy cantaloupe blindly.

Depth and spacing

USU: seed 1–1½ inches deep; 4–6 seeds in mounds 4 ft apart; thin to 2 plants/mound. Transplants 2 ft in-row; rows 4–6 ft.

Sun, soil and water

Full sun; fertile well-drained (USU). Water 1–2 inches/week deep/infrequent; reduce as fruit ripens for flavor. Organic mulch only after soil >75°F (USU).

Care

Black plastic for earliness (USU). Bee pollination; first flowers often male (USU FAQ). Cross-pollinates with cantaloupe — fruit flavor OK; saved seed mixes types (USU).

Harvest

Honeydew does not slip from the vine (unlike many cantaloupes). USU: rind light→darker; sticky wax feel; micro-cracks near blossom end; 45+ days from flowering to mature fruit. Store 45–50°F for about 3–6 weeks.

Pests and diseases

USU: aphids — soap/water stream; cucumber beetles — cultural/early control (row cover until flowering); powdery mildew — resistant types; wilt/virus — remove, control aphids. Align organic notes with the cantaloupe page without merging URLs. See organic pest control.

Related: cantaloupe · watermelon · cucumbers · ZIP planner · organic pest control

Frequently asked questions

When do I plant honeydew?

Start −6; transplant/direct 0 (soil ≥65°F). Plastic early set-out −2 (USU).

Same as cantaloupe?

Same species, different group (Inodorus vs netted/slip types) — separate pages (USU).

How do I know it is ripe?

Does not slip; look for color change, sticky wax feel, blossom-end micro-cracks (USU).

More grow guides: All grow guides

Sources