Get a head start by covering the ground with black plastic to heat up the soil a week or two before you sow seed. Then plant melon seeds right into small holes made in the plastic. Keep melon seedlings well watered and fed. If insects are a problem, cover the bed with floating row cover until blossoms set, then remove. After fruits start to size up, reduce water so best sweet flavor develops.
Ripe melons are a real centerpiece of high summer.
I love to serve two or three different kinds of melon cut in chunks and put on skewers, alternating with juicy red strawberries. For an elegant dessert, serve perfumed Galia or Earlidew honeydew quarters with a tablespoon of port wine in the center. Don t forget to try ripe melon slush drinks that you whip up in the blender. Good combinations are orange juice, Solid Gold cantaloupe and green grapes or Galia and Seven-Up with a strawberry garnish. Earlidew honeydew, mango and pineapple juice makes a great tropical tasting summer treat.