Muskmelons, cantaloupes, winter melons, and watermelons: they all thrive under the same cultural conditions and they all share similar growing problems. •Cantaloupes are muskmelons: these melons have pumpkin-like ribbing, a skin covered with a netting of shallow veins, and most varieties have a musk smell. •Winter melons (which are a type of muskmelon) ripen at…
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How to Grow Watermelons
The watermelon is a tender, warm-weather annual. Watermelons along with muskmelons and cantaloupes are sometimes called summer melons. Grow watermelons in the warmest, frost-free time of the year. Sow watermelon seed in the garden or set out transplants 3 to 4 weeks after the last average frost date in spring. Start watermelon seed indoors about…
How to Grow Melons
The cantaloupe or muskmelon is a tender, warm-weather plant. Cantaloupes grow best in very warm to hot weather. Sow cantaloupe (muskmelon) seed in the garden or set out transplants 3 to 4 weeks after the last average frost date in spring. Start cantaloupe seed indoors about 6 weeks before transplanting seedlings into the garden. Start…
How to Grow Bee Balm
Bee balm is a tall perennial herb native to North America. Bee balm is also called by its botanical name—Monarda, and is also called bergamot (because the scent is similar to the citrus fruit bergamot, an orange), and is also referred to as Oswego tea (the Oswego Indians made tea from the leaves). It has…
Vegetable Garden Cleanup
Clean the garden of plant debris and decaying vegetable matter at the end of the season to be sure insect pests and plant diseases do not overwinter in your garden. At the end of harvest or after the first hard frost, clean the garden and compost plant refuse or dispose of debris that is diseased…
How to Grow Okra
Okra is a heat-loving annual plant that requires 55 to 65 frost-free days with temperatures consistently above 85°F for full growth, flowering, and pod development. Sow okra seed in the garden 4 weeks after the average last frost date in spring. Description. Okra is tender, heat-loving annual that grows 4 to 7 feet tall and…
How to Grow Eggplant
Eggplant is very tender perennial grown as an annual. Grow eggplant in the warmest, frost-free time of the year. Eggplant requires 100 to 140 warm days with temperatures consistently between 70° and 90°F to reach harvest. Eggplant is best started indoors and later transplanted into the garden; sow eggplant indoors 6 to 8 weeks before…
