To enjoy them at their vine-ripened best we must grow them in the home garden. A sweet, aromatic melon from the home garden is a treat worth the the effort. Growing conditions All melon, cantaloupes, muskmelons, honeydews and watermelons require the same care. They grow best in loose, fertile soil that is rich in organic matter. The soil should be well drained.
All melons require full sun.
Cantaloupes, muskmelons and honeydews prefer a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Watermelon prefer a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. An early start in zone 6 Melons require a long, warm growing season. They can be direct-seeded in late spring when the soil temperature is above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the weather is settled. Black plastic mulch put down in early May can raise the soil temperature under the mulch to a safe level in about two weeks.