Honey Rock Cantaloupe

Honey Rock Cantaloupe is named for it's unique rock-like exterior and its sweet, honey-flavored orange flesh! The melon’s orange flesh is both vibrant and flavorful, providing a refreshing and satisfying taste that’s perfect for summer. A high-yielder, Honey Rock produces 5-7 large fruits, 6-7 inches in diameter, a vine. Its thick gray-green skin makes it sturdy for growth and ideal for travel. Its thick, netted rind helps to protect the delicious fruit inside, making it easy to slice and enjoy. Packed with vitamins and hydration, Honey Rock Cantaloupe is a nutritious addition to any diet, offering a natural source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Prepare into fresh fruit, salads, pressed in sorbets and drinks, wrapped in prosciutto, or desserts. A rich source of potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin C.

Also Known As: Sugar Melon, Honeydew, Sweet Melon, Cantaloupe, Muskmelon, Rockmelon, Orange Melon, Netted Melon, Antilles Melon, Golden Cantaloupe.

Plant Name:	Melon, Honey Rock Cantaloupe
Latin Name:	Cucumis melo
Days to Germinate:	7-14
Days to Harvest:	85
Plant Height:	12 - 18 Inches
Spread:	3-6 Feet
Growth Habit:	Vining
USDA Zones:	3-11
Lifespan:	Annual
Brand:	TomorrowSeeds
Sunlight:	Full Sun, Partial Shade
Pollination:	Heirloom, Open-Pollinated
GMO:	No
Fungicide-Treated Seeds*:	No
Seeds Packed For**:	2025

*Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds.
**Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.

Planting Instructions:

Soil Preparation:

Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots.

Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth.

Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 6 feet apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage.

Planting:

Cantaloupe melons grow best in warm weather.

Starting Indoors: For an earlier harvest, you may optionally start planting indoors in containers 3-4 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring, keeping seedlings at least 70F. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location when the soil temperature is above 65F. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the holes, burying some of the stem in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting. Optionally, Train plants to climb a 6-8 foot trellis or fence as they establish.

Directly Sowing: If directly sowing Cantaloupe melon outdoors, plant in mid-late spring when the soil warms to at least 70F. If Fall planting, sow in early summer, at least 13-16 weeks before the first expected frost date - or if growing indoors, keep at >70F using supplemental grow lights.

To plant, make holes 1 inch deep and spaced 3 feet apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole. If choosing to thin to the strongest plant, determine the strongest and healthiest plant, then remove all other plants, narrowing to a single plant per hole. Cover seeds thinly with soil and water after planting. Optionally, train plants to climb a 6-8 foot trellis or fence as they establish, spacing plants 18 inches apart at the base of the trellis.

Planting Depth:	1 inch
Within-Row Spacing:	3 feet (sprawl) or 18 inches (trellis)
Between-Row Spacing:	6 feet

Care During the Season:

Watering: Water the plants deeply, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once to twice a week. If there is no rainfall, water 3-4 times a week. Sandy soils may need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils. Mulching around plants can help retain moisture.

Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder roots.

Fertilizing: Once seedlings are established, 2-3 weeks after germination, you may optionally apply 2 tablespoons of a complete fertilizer around each hole, or 1-2 pounds per 100 square feet, without letting the fertilizer touch the plants. Optionally, continue fertilizing every 3-4 weeks as plants grow, especially after flowering begins. Water plants after fertilizing.

Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions.

Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions.

Harvesting:

Cantaloupe melons are ready to harvest when they have reached full size and their skin color has changed to a golden or yellowish hue. The melon should feel heavy for its size, indicating it has reached its peak ripeness. Gently press on the top near the stem - if it slightly indents, it is a good sign the melon is ready. The stem should also begin to dry and separate easily from the fruit. For the best flavor, harvest cantaloupe when it has a strong, sweet aroma and the skin underneath is slightly netted. When harvesting, use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut the melon from the vine, leaving a short piece of stem attached to the fruit.