How to Grow Melons Vertically in Colder Climates

In this complete guide to melon growing in low zones we will go through growing watermelons, cantaloupe and honeydew melons from start to finish.

where do plant melons?
What do melons need?
Do melons need heat?
Can you grow melons on Compost?
how to fertilize melons
how to use a hoop house.
how to built a teepee trellis.
Can you transplant melon seedlings?
what variety of melons works best in Canada?
How can you tell when a melon is ready to harvest?

Check us out on

[lobodo]

Good video. Especially describing your schemes for warm soil at the start of the season. I’m in Zone 5 (Wisconsin, USA) and full-size melons are difficult to pull off, so I’ll look for some smaller varieties. Everything goes in the ground on June 1 and finishes by Sept 15 around here. Thank you and best wishes

[momokitchen]

Wonderful demonstration. Also, I like the idea of placing the rocks close to the plants

[cherylann]

I once grew cantaloupe on a chain-link fence -- it looked beautiful and they were delicious. That was zone 6 and it still was not a long enough growing period. I am going to try your methods. We are in zone 5B now but someone told me to play it safe and look for things that grow in zone 4. You have given me hope!

[claudiat.]

I loved your video so much!!!! I loved that you were demonstrating the process and it was not just a video of letters and music. You were very quick and to the point. Long story short I’m so happy I found your channel!

[joelmiller]

Fantastic video. I learned a lot really quickly. And everything is super clear both with your explanations and visuals. Thanks!

[RainbowGardens]

Great tip to use rocks for heating. We have many rocks around here and I will have to try it next year.

[debraarizona]

I like the simple teepee you constructed for the melons. I am in Arizona and worry about using wire, because of the hot summers. Thank you for the great idea and helpful info..Awsome video!!thanks!

[icouldjustscream]

I plan on growing 3 mini varieties next spring in zone 4 NB. This was helpful, thank you. We get 16 hrs sun on the summer solstice. I will start them indoors in plantable cowpots to prevent transplant shock and I will trellis them as well.

[RESMITHcarpentry]

Awesome vid. I'm growing 4 kinds of melon this year here in Calgary. I've done well with squash apart from hail damage and you've given me loads of ideas to help things along.

[Pigearvet]

Love these ideas. I have three cantaloupe crawling all over the garden. Trellises next year for sure and an inspired great idea. Thanks ever so much

[meehan]

That was a comprehensive demonstration on how to grow melons Vertically. I thank you Stephen for that. Cheers . Patrick

[Pigearvet]

Well Alberta Gardener.. I am growing watermelon this year. I have a friend who grew one in Alberta Northern Alberta. Just giving you ideas lol.. Sweet Siberian and Cream of Saskatchewan are two 80-85 days and for cantaloupe I am growing Far North. I have ideas for early start. Great ideas coming from your channel. Many many thanks.

[OneYardRevolution]

Great tips on growing melons, Stephen! You had more success than we did. We just don't get enough direct sun. I'll be cutting open a sugar baby watermelon tonight to see if we got at least one ripe melon.

[HansQuistorff]

I have been trying the same cantaloupes for 3 years. 2 years I kept them in the greenhouse in an elevated trough so some were trained up and some hung down. I was having trouble with powdery mildew killing the leaves. So this year I planted them in a 1/3 height wicking barrel. I moved the barrel from the greenhouse to the open end of one of my high tunnels when the nights were warm enough and set up a trellis. All went well during the growing season. The plants liked the steady moisture of the wicking barrel. but in September nights started to get cold so I closed the end of the tunnel then while I was gone the temperature soared int the high 80's I did not have a high/low thermometer in the hoop house but the one in the greenhouse hit 125 F. The leaves shriveled worse than the cold or mildew. I managed to ripen some seed but only one of the mellons had received enough sugar. New plan for next year wil video it.

[kevinmanning]

Nice to find a video about growing in Alberta

[minnitinyteddie]

Thank you for this great video! I have a watermelon growing about the size of my fist but now it is a race against the first frost. From Canberra, Australia 😊

[billnolastname]

Good video. Straight and to the point with useful visuals.

[margaretbeloved]

thank you I learned something about the melon, good video

[semco]

That is nice to know about growing melons in Alberta, and it is about the same in Michigan trying to grow them. My father had problems with growing them in a large garden there and the farmers still have a problem keeping them warm when grown early.

[VOTETAJ]

Excellent work and lesson. The most success I had with melons was the flowering stage.
I did experiment with black brick (painted) for bitter melons, summer squash and okra. This year I started late, for next season I will include mirror or shiny side of aluminum for extra light and heat for speciality vegetables. If one can grow cucumbers he/she should be able to grow melons.