Honey Rock Melon (Heirloom, 90 Days)
The Honey Rock Melon is a 1920 Heirloom. In 1936 Henry A Dreer Seed Co. stated: “This new muskmelon is outstanding for the delicious sweetness and rich aroma of its tender, luscious, salmon-colored flesh. The fruits are almost round. They are of medium size but have extremely thick flesh surrounding the small seed cavity. The skin of the heavy fruits is a gray-green color showing a rough netting.
PLANTING
Cucumis melo
Germination: 4-10 days
Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 70-85ºF
Seed Sowing Depth: 1/2" deep
Sowing Indoors: 3-4 weeks before the last frost. Provide 70-85ºF soil temperature. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot. Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces root damage when transplanting. Transplant after last frost, 36" apart.
Sowing Outdoors: Sow after the last frost when the soil temperature is over 70ºF. Sow 2-3 seeds every 36", thin to the strongest seedling.
How much does a packet plant: 18-20 foot single row, 5-6 hills
Harvest: Look for the following signs as it does take some practice on telling when they are ready to harvest. The skin tone changes and netting becomes heavy, the ends soften, they will slip from the vines or a gentle tug will pull it away from the vine, a crack develops around the stem, the closest tendril to the stem dries, and the aroma increases when ripe.
Tips: The Honey Rock melon should be planted in fertile soil, amended with compost or well-rotted manure, and kept well watered. They benefit from growing on black plastic and by using row covers for weed, insect control, and more rapid growth.