When to sow Melon in the UK
Melon is frost-tender, so the right week to sow it depends on where in the UK you garden.
Sowing and harvest dates by region
Melon is frost-tender, so its timings shift across the UK. Plot works them out from the Midlands and Lowland Wales baseline using Met Office average frost dates.
| Where you are | Sow indoors | Plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| South West Coast and Cornwall | mid March to mid April | mid April to mid May | mid June to late August |
| South Coast and Channel | late March to mid April | late April to late May | late June to late August |
| Greater London (Urban Heat Island) | mid March to mid April | mid April to mid May | mid June to late August |
| South East and Home Counties | early April to early May | early May to early June | mid July to mid September |
| East Anglia | mid April to early May | mid May to mid June | mid July to mid September |
| Midlands and Lowland Wales | mid April to mid May | late May to mid June | late July to late September |
| Wales and West Coast | early April to early May | early May to early June | mid July to mid September |
| Northern England | late April to late May | late May to late June | early August to early October |
| Scotland Lowlands and Central Belt | early May to late May | early June to early July | early August to early October |
| Scotland Highlands and Islands | late May to mid June | late June to late July | late August to late October |
| Northern Ireland | mid April to early May | mid May to mid June | mid July to mid September |
| Channel Islands and Isle of Man | early March to early April | mid April to early May | mid June to mid August |
Growing notes
Sow indoors mid-April to mid-May and plant into a greenhouse from late May, or outdoors from early June once nights stay above 12-15C. Only a few cantaloupe varieties will ripen outdoors in the UK; thin to four to six fruits under glass, up to four outdoors.
At a glance
- Spacing
- 45 cm between plants
- Row spacing
- 90 cm
- Plants per m²
- 2
- Days to maturity
- 120 days
- Yield per plant
- 2.5 kg
- Sun
- Full
- Frost tender
- Yes
- Grows in a container
- Yes, 40 litres or more
- Minimum soil depth
- 40 cm
- Balcony rating
- 2 out of 5
What usually goes wrong
- mosaic virus
- glasshouse red spider mite
- powdery mildew
- slugs
Companion planting
Grows well near
Keep away from
Related guides
Timings cross-checked against RHS guidance for melon.