Cucumis melo## HOW TO GROW MELON Start indoors 3–4 weeks before last frost, plant out 2 weeks after last frost. Direct sow 1-2 weeks after last frost date. Sow in rows or thin to 12" apart 2-3 plants per hill. Melons are heat lovers, and require warm springs and warm nights. In cooler climates, use plastic mulch to increase the soil and air temperature. Using floating row covers also helps. Heavy feeder, thrive in well-decayed organic matter or compost. Moist well-drained soil is important in early stages of pollination. After fruit set, do not water unless the soil is very dry and leaves begin to wilt. Best flavor produced in dry weather. Fruit is mature when fruit turns color and slips from the vine. Soil pH 6-7.5. Hardiness zones 4. Annual.Days from maturity calculated from the date of seeding. Average 1,260 seeds per ounce. Average 15M seeds per acre. Federal germination standard: 75%. Usual seed life: 5 years. Isolation distance for seed saving: 1/2 mile.Planting Depth 1/4-1/2”Soil Temp. Germ. 70-85˚FDays to Germ. 3-10Plant Spacing 18”Row Spacing 5-6’Days To Maturity 75–90Full Sun, Moist Well Drained ##Wonderful Colorado heirloom from 1881. Popular green-flesh muskmelon with a heavily netted rind, and smooth, sweet-flavored flesh. Fruits average 2-3 lb, size is variable. A good keeper with firm flesh. Also known as Rocky Ford. Tags: Color: Green, Heritage: Heirloom, Season: Summer, Certification: Organic.##Feral Farm##Certified Organic by CCOF##Seed grower since 2015##//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0129/8922/files/Feral-Farm-Photo-small.jpg?3##I started growing seed commercially as an apprentice at the Organic Farm School in the Puget Sound in Washington. I already loved growing vegetables, but taking a plant all the way through its life cycle felt like a special kind of honor, and I quickly saw the value in sustaining organic, important, and rare plant varieties and participating in sustainable food systems in this way. I moved to Oregon in 2015 and have been growing my organic seed farming business over the last four seasons by renting land from existing farms and slowly taking on higher volumes and more varieties. I’m currently growing 1.6 acres of certified organic seed crops and heirloom garlic.
