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characterized by 5-angled stems, coiled tendrils, andalternate leaves. Cucurbits are usually monoeciousmeaning they produce separate male and emale lowerson the same plant. The emale lowers develop into ruitater bees transer pollen rom the male lowers. Manycucurbits are susceptible to the same pests and alsoshare similar cultural needs.

CultivarsThe ollowing cultivars are suggested or planting in Iowa.

WatermelonFruits are round to oblong with solid light green, gray-green, dark green or contrasting stripes; esh color is red,yellow, orange, or white. Most watermelon varieties produce mature ruit 75 to 95 days ater seeding and 42 to45 days ater pollination.

Cultivar Season Description Size in poundsCrimson Sweet Mid to late Light green/dark green stripes, round and blocky, seeded 20 to 30

Millennium Early Dark green, no stripes, oval ruit, red fesh, seedless 18 to 20

Millionaire Late Light green striped, oblong, seedless 13 to 20

Revolution Early to mid Dark and light green stripes, long and blocky, red fesh, seedless 20 to 26

Royal Sweet Mid to late Light green, striped, blocky oval 20 to 25Sangria Mid to late Dark green striped, long blocky oval, seeded 20 to 26

Sugar Baby Early Dark green, round, red fesh 8

Yellow Baby Early Light green striped, round, yellow fesh 9 to 12

MuskmelonOten called cantaloupes, ruits are round to oval with orange to salmon esh and distinctive musky avor andragrance. Fruits mature 75 to 100 days ater seeding and 42 to 46 days ater pollination.

Cultivar Season Description Size in poundsStarship Mid Oval 4 to 6

Superstar Mid Round 8

Earlisweet Early Small, round 2 to 3

Eclipse Mid Oval 5 to 7

Saticoy Late Small elongated oval 3 to 4

HoneydewFruits are round to slightly elongated with light green esh. Honeydews mature 80 to 100 days ater seeding.

Cultivar Season Description Size in poundsEarlidew Early Round to oval, lime green fesh 2 to 3

Passport Early (75 days) Round, light green fesh 4 to 6

Venus Early Round, yellowish fesh 3 to 4

Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus), muskmelons (Cucumismelo reticulous), and honeydew melons (Cucumis meloinodorus) all produce sprawling vines that take upconsiderable space in the garden. Melons and othervine crops, including cucumbers, pumpkins, squash,and gourds, are collectively known as cucurbits. Theybelong to the same plant amily (Cucurbitaceae) and are

Melons

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PlantingMelons are warm-season crops and should be plantedater the danger o rost is past and soil temperatureshave warmed to 60 to 70F. In central Iowa, melons maybe planted in mid-May. Gardeners in southern Iowa canplant the frst week o May, while northern gardenersshould wait until the third or ourth week o May. Allmelons require ull sun and well-drained soil. Plant in

raised beds i soil is poorly drained. The seedbed shouldas fne as possible. Rototilling the soil is preerred.

Melons are normally planted in hills. (Hill planting isthe grouping o plants in small groups or clusters. Themethod is commonly used when planting vine crops,such as watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, and squash.)Sow 4 or 5 seeds in a 6- to 12-inch diameter circle. Seedsshould be planted 1 inch deep. When the seedlings have1 or 2 true leaves, remove all but 2 or 3 healthy, well-spaced plants per hill.

Earliness techniquesFor an earlier crop, melon transplants can be startedindoors 2 to 3 weeks beore the anticipated outdoorplanting date. Peat pellets, soil blocks, or otherplantable containers work best and reduce possibledamage to the plants root system. Sow 2 or 3 seeds percontainer. Transplant outdoors when plants have 1 or2 true leaves. Harden the plants outdoors or a ewdays in an area protected location rom wind and directsunlight prior to planting to lessen transplant stress.

Black, clear, or colored plastic mulch flm can be usedto promote early melon production. Plastic promotesspring growth by allowing sunlight to more efcientlywarm the soil. The plastic mulch also helps toconserve soil moisture and control weeds.

Lay the plastic over moist soil on a calm day. I theplastic is laid over dry soil, it will actually delaysubsequent plant growth. Anchor the edges o theplastic mulch by making urrows 2 or 3 inches deep.Place the edges o the plastic in the urrows, then fllthe urrows with soil. To plant, simply cut holes in the

plastic with a sharp knie or bulb planter. The holesshould be in the center o the plastic flm and justlarge enough to plant the seeds or transplants.

Winds can damage the young plants, delay maturity,and reduce yields. For these reasons, early plantingsare oten covered with hot tents or clear plastictunnels (supported by wire hoops) or 2 to 3 weeksater transplanting outdoors. The tents or tunnelsalso provide a small amount o rost protection.

SpacingWatermelon hills should be 2 to 3 eet apart in rows thatare 6 to 8 eet apart. Hills o muskmelon and honeydewshould be spaced 1 to 2 eet apart with 5 to 6 eetbetween rows. Closer plant spacing results in more ruitper area, but ruit size and sweetness will decrease. Ispace is limited, bush-type watermelon and muskmeloncultivars can be planted.

FertilizingApply 1 to 2 pounds o 10-10-10 or a similar analysisertilizer per 100 square eet o garden area prior toplanting. Use the lower rate on sandy loam soils and thehigher rate on upland soils. When using plastic mulch,use the lower rate. Incorporate the ertilizer into the soilbeore laying down the plastic. For specifc recommen-dations, conduct a soil test. A soil pH o 5.57.0 ispreerred or cucurbits.

When setting out transplants, apply a starter ertilizersolution at the rate o 1 pint (2 cups) per transplant.For the starter solution, ollow the label directions on awater-soluble ertilizer or dissolve 2 tablespoons o anall-purpose garden ertilizer, such as 10-10-10, in onegallon o water.

Estimated yieldAverage yield with good management practices shouldbe about 4 to 10 watermelons per 10-oot row or 2 to3 muskmelons per plant.

IrrigationDry conditions during germination result in poor anduneven seed emergence. A shortage o moisture at bloomresults in poor ruit set and misshapen ruit. Moisturestress close to harvest greatly reduces melon size andresults in rapid vine decline. Thereore, a consistentsupply o soil moisture should be maintained romgermination through harvest. Drip irrigation under blackplastic mulch produces higher yields and discouragesoliar diseases.

During dry weather, irrigate by applying 1 to 2 incheso water every 7 to 10 days. Soil type does not aectthe amount o total water needed, but it does aect therequency o watering. Sandy soils need to be wateredmore requently but require less water per application.Irrigate in early morning to reduce oliage diseases.As the ruit approaches maturity, apply hal as muchwater per application.

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Poorly drained soils, heavy rainall, or too much irriga-tion or a week or two beore harvest can cause pooravor, lower sugar content, and bursting o the ruit.

Excessive moisture and too much nitrogen during ruitripening may cause white heart o watermelons.

Pollination

Each emaleower is openand receptive topollination oronly one day.The more beevisits per ower, the greaterthe number o seeds per ruit, the larger the size o theruit, and the ewer number o misshapen ruit. Cool,rainy, or windy weather limits bee activity and pollina-tion. Low temperatures can prevent the developmentand release o pollen.

Avoid using insecticides that are injurious to bees. Wheninsecticides are needed, apply early in the morning orlate in the evening when bees are less active.

Potential problemsInsectsInsect pests are usually mostcritical in the seedling or earlygrowth stage. Row coversapplied at planting and removed

at frst bloom can be used to exclude insect pests.Organic and synthetic insecticide applications are moreeective when made early in the season when insectpests are small and easier to kill. Cucumber beetles,squash bugs, mites, and aphids are the most commoninsect pests o melons. Insecticide applications shouldbe made only when necessary as determined by feldobservations and correct identifcation o the insect pest.Insect populations oten uctuate greatly rom yearto year.

DiseasesSome oliar diseases appear where air circulation isreduced and leaves remain wet, such as in low areas andalong borders sheltered by trees. Foliar diseases typicallyappear frst on leaves close to the base o the mainstem. Root diseases tend to appear where soil remainswettest, such as in low areas and in soils with a higherclay content. For control o diseases, ungicides are mosteective when applied at the onset o visible symptomso disease.

Ater harvest is complete, remove vines and otherresidue rom the garden. Diseases and squash bugsoverwinter in crop residues. Crop rotation can reducesome disease problems or subsequent plantings.

For specifc pesticide recommendations, reer toFG 600 Midwest Vegetable Production Guide orCommercial Growers.

WildlifeWildlie can damage melons, especially when they areplanted near wooded areas. Raccoons, coyotes, and deerare attracted to ripe melons.

Possible control measures include removing animalsby live-trapping or hunting, excluding the animals byencing or screening, and deterring the animals by usingrightening devices, repellents, or dogs. Exclusion is thebest method o coping with damage caused by wildlie.

Harvest and storageWatermelonHarvest watermelons when the underside o the melon(belly or ground spot) turns rom a greenish whiteto buttery yellow or cream. This color change is mostobvious on cultivars with dark green skin. It is oten lessnoticeable on lighter-skinned watermelons. In addition,the ruit tends to lose its glossy appearance on top andbecomes dull when ripe.

Thumping or tapping the melon is generally not a

good indicator o ripeness. The sounds produced bythumping mature and immature melons are quitesimilar. The browning o the light green, curly tendrilattached to the vine near the melon is another poorindicator o ripeness.

When harvesting watermelons, leave 2 inches o thestem on the ruit. Watermelons can be stored at roomtemperature or about 1 week. The storage period canbe extended to 2 to 3 weeks at 5060F.

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MuskmelonThe ruit o muskmelon are mature when the stem pulls(slips) easily rom the melon. The melon is not ripe i thestem has to be orcibly separated rom the ruit. Otherindicators o maturity are based on touch, appearance,and aroma. The ower end (the end opposite the stem)o the melon should be slightly sot. The skin betweenthe netting turns rom green to yellow at maturity.

Finally, a ripe melon produces a strong muskmelonaroma.

Muskmelons can be stored in the rerigerator or 5 to7 days. Beore rerigerating, place the melons in a plasticbag to prevent the muskmelon aroma rom avoringother stored oods.

HoneydewHarvest honeydew melons when the ower end o theruit slightly sotens. There also may be a slight change

in the ruits color. Store honeydew melons at a tempera-ture o 45 to 50F.

For more informationAdditional inormation about vegetable gardening

and other horticultural topics is available rom local

extension ofces and rom these Web sites:

ISU Extension Distribution Center

www.extension.iastate.edu/store

ISU Extension Food Preservation Resources

www.extension.iastate.edu/healthnutrition/ood/

preservation/resources.htm

ISU Extension Horticulture

www.yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu

Questions also may be directed to ISU ExtensionHortline by calling 515-294-3108 during business hours(10 a.m.12 noon, 1 p.m.4:30 p.m. MondayFriday).

I you want to learn more about horticulture through

training and volunteer work, ask your ISU Extensionofce or inormation about the ISU Extension MasterGardener program.

Prepared by Eldon Everhart, Cindy Haynes, and Henry Taber,

extension horticulturists; Diane Nelson, extension communication

specialist; and Jane Lenahan, extension grahic designer.

File: Hort and LA 2-3 and 2-9

. . . and justice or all

The U.S. Department o Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination

in all its programs and activities on the basis o race, color, national

origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political belies, sexual

orientation, and marital or amily status. (Not all prohibited bases

apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available

in alternative ormats or ADA clients. To fle a complaint o

discrimination, write USDA, Ofce o Civil Rights, Room 326-W,

Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,

DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964.

Issued in urtherance o Cooperative Extension work, Acts o

May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department

o Agriculture. Jack M. Payne, director, Cooperative Extension

Service, Iowa State University o Science and Technology,

Ames, Iowa.

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