The Athena melon is a medium sized cantaloupe type melon averaging 5-6 pounds. This proven cantaloupe is a best seller and a favorite among gardeners and growers across the US.The exterior has a tough rind with a coarse netting covering a tan to faint orange skin. The inside of the Athena has a classic cantaloupe appearance, a thin ring of bright green at the rind turning to a dense orange flesh which surrounds a small central seed cavity. The Athena melon is known for its ability to maintain a firm texture and juicy consistency even when till on the vine and at its peak of ripeness. Its flavor as well is consistently of exceptional sweetness and offers aromatics of flowers and honey. When ripe and at room temperature the Athena melon will have a sweet melon aroma, particularly at its stem end.  Pick at full slip for best quality and flavor. Athena consistently delivers early yields with dynamite flavor. The 6 by 8 inch fruit weigh 5-6 pounds, are coarsely netted, and have a scrumptious, bright orange flesh. Ripe melons seldom crack and have a tough rind, making them ideal for shipping. Good shelf life even when harvested ripe. Widely adapted. Fruits avg. 5-6 lb. Intermediate resistance to fusarium wilt races 0-2 and powdery mildew.

20  Seeds per package.

Vegetable Garden - Tips on Growing Melons From Seed

75 Days to Maturity. Maturity dates are from transplant and are to be used as a comparison guide only.

SOWING THE SEED

The question has always been- should I sow indoors or outdoors? In warm climates you can direct sow melons, however starting the melons indoors is preferred, both because the melon plants can grow well in soil that is 10-20 degrees cooler than that is needed for best germination of seed, and because the seeds germinate more slowly in cooler soil. Where ever you are, transplanting will probably give you the best yields in the finished crop. Remember  that you will need to be very careful as  to avoid transplant shock, Do not disturb the roots the best you can, also because melons need everyday of sun that they can get to ripen the fruit so they can not afford any setbacks.

• SOW INDOORS:
• Start melon seeds indoors in a seed starting mix three weeks before the last frost date. Sow 3 seeds each in 3-inch pots. Germinate at a steady 80º to 90ºF (27-32ºC). Once the seedlings appear, lower the temperature to 75ºF (24ºC) for about a week until the first true leaves begin to emerge. Thin to one plant per pot with scissors. Lower the temperature to 65º-70ºF (18-21ºC) and reduce watering for another week.
• Days to Germination: 3-5
• DIRECT SOW OUTDOORS:
• When soil temperature reaches at least 70ºF(21º)C, and after any danger of frost is past.
• Sow 2-3 Melon seeds every 16", in a row, and cover ½" to ¾" deep in late spring, after any danger of frost.
• Soil temperature should be 80-90º F(27-32º)C.
• Cooler temperatures can cause the melon seeds to rot.

GARDEN HINTS:

A warm weather crop that should not be planted too early in the spring.Use black plastic mulch or drape with floating row cover to give melons the heat they need in marginal growing areas..

Growing

• pH range: 6.0-7.0 where 6.0 is the absolute minimum, production drops below this.
• Growing soil temperature: 70-85º F (21-29º)C.
• Spacing in beds : 16" (40cm)
• Watering:  Moderate and even from germination to hardening off, low for one week prior to transplanting, moderate again from transplanting until fruit is full sized, low or none during ripening of fruit.
• Light: Full sun
• Nutrient requirements: N=low, P=high, K=high

Rotation considerations:

• Avoid following cucumber, pumpkin, and summer and winter squash.<.li>
• Good Companions: Corn
• Bad Companions: Potato

USDA Hardiness Zone -First Frost Date- Last Frost Date

• Zone 1  -July 15th -June 15th
• Zone 2  -August 15th- May 15th
• Zone 3  -September 15th May 15th
• Zone 4  -September 15th May 15th
• Zone 5  -October 15th April 15th
• Zone 6  -October 15th April 15th
• Zone 7  -October 15th April 15th
• Zone 8  -November 15th March 15th
• Zone 9  -December 15th February 15th
• Zone 10 -December 15th January 31st (sometimes earlier)
• Zone 11 -No frost. No frost.

An old garden myth would suggest pinching off a vine’s growing shoots as melons start to ripen to cause the plant to divert all its energy to the ripening fruit. Research has proven this FALSE. The vine needs all its leaves to produce the sugars that sweeten fruit. Anything that reduces the total number of leaves available for sugar production reduces melon sweetness.

The more fruits that ripen at the same time, the less sweet they will be, this is TRUE, since the vine will have to divide the leaves’ sugar production between fruits. In warmer climes with a long growing season, experienced growers often prune off all but one newly forming melon every 2 weeks. Ripening 1 melon at a time yields maximum sweetness. As you gain experience, you will develop your own technique.

In colder regions, remove any blossoms that start to develop within 50 days of your area’s first average frost date. This ensures remaining, larger fruits will ripen before frost.

The key to a sweet melon is lots of sugar, which is made by the leaves. So anything that hurts the leaves also hurts the quality of the fruit.

GROWING CONDITIONS:

• Melons are sensitive to drought throughout the season, but especially from transplanting to fruit set. To get fruits of the proper size, water evenly but not too much, as too much water when fruits are enlarging can diminish flavor.
If possible, avoid overhead watering. Soaker hoses deliver water directly to the soil, preventing possible spread of fungus diseases on wet foliage. If you must use a sprinkler, then water vines very early in the morning so that leaves can dry early, which helps prevent fungus diseases.
• Melons grow quickly and sometimes outgrow the nutrient reserve in the soil, if this happens your leaves will be a light green, so to correct this use a complete organic fertilizer like fish emulsion or kelp from time of transplant to fruit set.
• Plant in rich well composted soil. Before the vine spread apply mulch to control weeds.
• For vines running on the ground, keep fruit from direct contact with soil to prevent rot and protect fruit from pests and rodents. Place ripening fruit on mulch, upturned coffee cans, or flowerpots. If large critters such as groundhogs discover your melons, protect ripening fruits by covering them with plastic milk crates or similar boxes weighted down with a few bricks.
• After transplanting in spring you can cover plants with floating row covers to exclude insects and trap warm air near plants; this is most important in cooler climates but is useful everywhere to keep certain pests off the plants. Vines bear male and female flowers. Male flowers open first, joined by female blossoms about a week later. Female flowers have a small swelling at the base of the flower. When vines start to bear male and female flowers, remove row covers.

HARVESTING TIPS

It is normally pretty easy to tell when most vegetables are ripe, however melons require a little more practice to get it right. A good tip to know is that all the fruits on any individual melon plant will ripen over a short period of time. When one melon is ripe, the remaining melons are not far behind.

• MOST MELONS (with the exception of Watermelons) are ripe when the rinds change from a gray-green to yellow-buff color. The fruit is firm but with gentle thumb pressure you can easily separate the stem from the vine.
• WATERMELONS: Gauging when to pick a watermelon is a combination of science and tradition. Here are the most popular ways to determine when your watermelon is ripe.
• The tendril nearest to the fruit will turn from green to brown.
• The underside of the melon, where it sits on the ground is yellow.
• When you rap it lightly you will hear a low pitched thunk or thump instead of a high pitched ping. Try this out on a few that are NOT ripe so you can tune your ear to the sound.
• Cucumber beetles will sometimes attack watermelon plants. These can be controlled with the application of an insecticide or the use of row covers early in the season before the beetles have a chance to get to the crop. You can leave the row covers in place until the plants begin to bloom, at which point they need to be removed so pollinating insects can reach your plants.
• Fungus diseases, including Alternaria leaf spot, powdery mildew, anthracnose, and downy mildew are also possible.
• Prevention is the key to disease and pest management. Healthy plants are far less likely to attract problems than weak ones. Plant in rich, well-drained soil in full sun with plenty of air circulation, and you'll get healthy plants that bear lots of fruit.
• Walk around your garden several times a week and inspect your plants. Immediately remove any that have signs of disease.
• Clean up well after the season has passed to prevent anything carrying over to the next year.
• Rotate your crops to keep possible diseases from transmitting season to season.
• Contact your local Extension Office for specific disease and pest prevention and management in your area.