Water Needs: Keep soil consistently moist but avoid waterlogging. Water deeply and infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Reduce watering as the fruit begins to ripen to concentrate the sugars in the melon.
Sunlight Needs: Full sun (6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily). Musk Melons require ample sunlight to develop their sweet flavor and achieve full ripeness.
Time to Germinate: 7-10 days.
Seed Soaking: No soaking needed, but soaking seeds for a few hours before planting can speed up germination.
Tray/Pot Recommendations: Start seeds in small pots or seed trays and transplant seedlings when they have 2-3 true leaves. Use pots at least 30 centimeters deep if growing in containers.
Space Requirements: Space plants 60-90 centimeters apart in rows 1.5 to 2 meters apart to allow for proper vine growth and fruit development. Provide ample room for the vines to spread.
Temperature Requirements: Optimal growing temperatures range from 24-30°C. Musk Melons thrive in warm weather and should be planted when the soil has warmed sufficiently.
Best Growing Season: In Thailand, Musk Melons can be grown year-round, but they perform best during the cooler, dry months from October to February.
Time to Harvest: 70-90 days from planting. Harvest Musk Melons when the stem begins to crack and the fruit easily detaches from the vine, indicating ripeness. The melon should have a sweet aroma and a slightly soft texture at the blossom end.
