Early yields of uniform, high quality 5-6 lb fruits. The Athena Melon has a firm salmon-colored flesh with a fruity aroma and small seed cavity with a good shelf life after harvest. Good disease resistance for powdery mildew and fusarium wilt. 20 seeds PLANTING Cucumis melo Germination: 4-10 days Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 70-85ºF Seed Sowing Depth: 1/2" deep Sowing Indoors: 3-4 weeks before the last frost. Provide 70-85ºF soil temperature. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot. Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces root damage when transplanting. Transplant after the last frost, 36" apart. Sowing Outdoors: Sow after the last frost when the soil temperature is over 70ºF. Sow 2-3 seeds every 36", thin to the strongest seedling. How much does a packet plant: 18-20 foot single row, 5-6 hills Harvest: Look for the following signs, as it does take some practice to tell when they are ready to harvest. The skin tone changes and netting becomes heavy, the ends soften, they will slip from the vines, or a gentle tug will pull it away from the vine, a crack develops around the stem, the closest tendril to the stem dries, and the aroma increases when ripe. Tips: Plant the Athena Melon in fertile soil, amended with compost or well-rotted manure, and keep well watered. They benefit from growing on black plastic and by using row covers for weed and insect control, and more rapid growth.
