From

Location

Message

Date Posted

British Columbia, Canada

I'm thinking of growing melons next year instead of pumpkins. I just don't have enough space for pumpkins right now. I've been told melons are easier to grow, is this true?

10/8/2015 8:27:23 PM

formerly RGG

no

10/8/2015 8:35:31 PM

Vermont

no

10/8/2015 10:15:46 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Yes

10/8/2015 11:18:29 PM

NE Arkansas

With my weather being 9k degrees it is for me... pumpkins don't seem to like 105°

10/9/2015 12:40:27 AM

southwest MO

Your question is to broad. They defineatley take less space.

10/9/2015 1:06:18 AM

Marshall, MI

I used to grow pumpkins, now I grow melons.
They are not easier to grow.
I have never lost a melon because it split open at the stem or blossom end.

10/9/2015 8:28:20 AM

Central NY

What's the biggest worry when growing melons?..(vs pumpkins?)

10/9/2015 8:52:59 AM

Home of happy lil plants

For jlindley biggest worry is splitting from the stem to the blossom end!

the answer is not EASIER at all but a better chance of getting Something to the end.. even if that something is smallish it made it

10/9/2015 10:55:24 AM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

I think they are easier, the trade off is no vine burring verses keeping only one melon on the vine. I don't see the insect problem I do with pumpkins. You will need to ask your self if your climate allows you to grow one large enough for you to be satisfied. They still are alot of work. Nothing put smiles on peoples face like and orange pumpkin.

10/9/2015 11:01:41 AM

SW Ohio

Just like growing pumpkins...You get out of it what you put into it.
I would not say its easier. I would say its different.

10/9/2015 5:50:14 PM

sevierville, Tn

i agree with bill and susan. climate is a big factor and different like they rhyme, but not the same. If your easy on the chemicals, you can eat it at season end !

10/9/2015 11:22:31 PM

Bowdon, GA

If you want to grow a 2000 pound pumpkin and a 50 pound melon, "yes". If you want a 300 pound melon and a 100 pound pumpkin, no.

10/10/2015 12:07:12 AM

British Columbia, Canada

How much sq ft does the average watermelon plant require?

10/10/2015 12:19:49 PM

Liberty nc

It was told to me to plant in a 25 by 25 foot area. Lots of people plant in smaller areas. You can also look up Todd Dawson on u tube an watch his videos on growing watermelons. Also you can join the gwg which also gives out great news letters an tips for growing watermelons.

10/10/2015 3:39:35 PM

My son grew his first giant watermelon this year in a 20x30 foot patch. We also lifted my older son's two pumpkins - 504# 1% heavy and 438# 13% heavy - each grown separately in a same sized plot. My garden is pretty large 3600sf for a community garden. You may talk about size of patch and all that, but when you garden out in a community plot you are up against neighboring gardeners with their own definition of garden tending. For instance, we cut down loads of chest high weeds next to our plots that we fence in and reinforce big time more to keep out the human varmints that choose to steal. The weeds outside the fence are all about gardeners who plant tons of plants dependent on the gardener who walks away and allows nature to do WHATEVER!! So, we haul 100's of gallons of water everyday during the growing season, keep a feeding schedule as I read many do, weed daily, train the vines and pray that a flood won't wipe our hard work out. As for how much the watermelon plant needs in size, let's just say ALOT. Even when he cut the vines back, the plant sent out new vines and more fruits spanning across our garden. The plant was really sensitive to black vine weevil and cucumber beetles. If neighboring gardeners would only clean out their own weeds, we may have had more relief from these harboring pests and their disease transferring ability. Pumpkin vines crossed and became friends with the watermelon very quickly and nearly choked my tomatoes with their tendrils. Those saw my pruning shears! It just my opinion, but I think how the gardener cares for the plants whatever they may be plays a much larger role than plot size. A 1000# pumpkin in a large space of garden rotting on the vine = loss, but another opportunity to grow again!

10/10/2015 6:49:22 PM

Central Minnesota

I grow both and I would say yes. We are very cool so they are very tough to get going in our cool soil/Climate. Once they get going they are much easier than a pumpkin. I use a similar spray/feed program for both. The hardest part about melons is removing all the small melons throughout the year. Burying vines and fruit/vine position on pumpkins is just a much bigger task. Melons are about the same as a Field Pumpkin in my mind. Although I am not growing them that big yet.

10/13/2015 9:27:49 AM

Johnston, R.I.

I think it depends on how serious you are about growing a melon... If you are a pumpkin grower and growing a melon as an experiment or added entertainment I would say they are easier.. If you are a serious melon grower I say they are not any easier than a pumpkin..

1/1/2016 4:40:36 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

no

1/4/2016 4:19:09 PM