Honeydew
Cucumis melo var. inodorus
The classic sweet melon with pale green skin and incredibly sweet, juicy flesh that melts in your mouth. This beloved variety produces large, oval fruits with that distinctive honeyed flavor that makes it a summer favorite. Perfect for fresh eating, fruit salads, and breakfast treats.
Harvest
85-100d
Days to harvest
Sun
KOO-koo-mis MEL-oh
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
6-9 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Honeydew in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 vine →Zone Map
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Honeydew · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: KOO-koo-mis MEL-oh. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in., Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Musky-scented, spherical to oblong berry with a rind (pepo), often furrowed with yellow, white or green flesh and many seeds. The rind may be green, yellow, tan, beige or white and the surface may be smooth, rough, warty, scaly, or netted. Seeds white, about 1/2 inch long, narrow. Seeds ripen in August and September.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, White. Type: Berry. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Summer
Edibility: Eaten fresh, wrapped in prosciutto, in salads, or as a dessert. Watery, but delicate, flavor. Avoid the seeds as the sprouting seed produces a toxic substance in its embryo.
History & Origin
Origin: Africa, Arabian Peninsula, India, Australia
Advantages
- +Edible: Eaten fresh, wrapped in prosciutto, in salads, or as a dessert. Watery, but delicate, flavor. Avoid the seeds as the sprouting seed produces a toxic substance in its embryo.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving melon flavor
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for cucumber beetles and squash bugs, protecting melons
Radishes
Deters cucumber beetles and squash vine borers with their pungent compounds
Marigolds
Repels nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Oregano
Provides ground cover and repels various insects harmful to melons
Beans
Fix nitrogen in soil and don't compete with shallow melon roots
Sunflowers
Attract beneficial insects and provide natural trellising support
Corn
Provides natural windbreak and vertical structure without root competition
Keep Apart
Cucumbers
Share same pests and diseases, increasing risk of cucumber mosaic virus
Potatoes
Attract similar pests and may stunt melon growth through allelopathy
Aromatic herbs
Strong herbs like sage can inhibit melon germination and growth
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate resistance to powdery mildew
Common Pests
Cucumber beetles, aphids, squash bugs
Diseases
Powdery mildew, downy mildew, bacterial wilt