Warm Things Up

• Warm up the ground to create a toasty, inviting environment for honeydew melons, which do not like cold climates. The Bonnie Plants website suggests waiting until the temperature of the soil has reached 70 degrees Fahrenheit before planting honeydew seedlings, as they will not thrive in chilly locales. Seek a location with plenty of sun for the melons and cover the ground with plastic sheeting to hasten warming before planting.
  
  

Start Indoors

• Protect tender melon seeds from the elements by starting them indoors. The University of Minnesota suggests sowing honeydew seeds inside two to four weeks before transplanting them outdoors, which is particularly important in cold, northerly settings. Before the young plants are moved outside, they should have developed strong roots and have sprouted two to three mature leaves. Make the transfer easier by growing the seeds in biodegradable containers like pea pots, which can be placed directly into the ground.
  
  

Give Them Room and Support

• Give honeydew melons ample room to grow, as the large, rotund fruits take up plenty of space. If growing the melons on the ground, Botanical Journeys Plant Guides recommends shaping the soil into mounds 3 feet across and several inches high. Place 4 feet of space between each mound and bury the seeds in the center of each one. Honeydews can also grow on trellises if you tie their vines to the structures. However, melons will need a sling for support as they mature and their weights balloon.
  
  

Hydrate

• Water melons generously to keep them well hydrated, healthy and growing. The University of Minnesota suggests deep and infrequent waterings, giving the melons 1 to 2 inches of water each week and adds that light watering only dampens the soil and fails to properly hydrate the fruit. Cut back on watering as the fruit ripens to protect its flavor, and be careful not to overwater during the last two weeks before harvest, as it can cause splitting.