Tigger Melon Seeds For Planting (Cucumis melo)

Sowing the Seeds

You'll likely want to start your plants indoors to get a head start. Tigger melon is a late-maturing variety. If you plant outdoors, mound up 3' diameter hills (6" to 10" tall) and plant a trio of seeds three inches apart (in a triangle) at the top of each mound. Mounds should be 4' to 5' apart, measuring from the centers. Shore up "moats" at the bases of your mounds for irrigating established plants. 

• Seed preparation: Soak seeds in lukewarm water for a few hours prior to seeding
• Sowing/transplanting outside: Two weeks after last frost date and/or soil is consistently at least 65°F-70°F
• Sowing indoors: 6 to 8 weeks before last spring frost; 1 seed per 4" nursery pot
• Seed depth: 1/2" to 1" below soil surface

See "Growing Conditions" for helpful soil amendment information. 

Growing Conditions

Tigger melons are long-season vegetables technically suited to USDA zones 4-10 and need heat to thrive. They're more drought-tolerant than most other melons, though we recommend watering them every few days. Tiggers and most other melons need heat and complete drought in the week leading up to harvest to concentrate the natural sugars as the fruit ripens. Some gardeners withdraw irrigation up to two weeks.

• Sunlight requirements: Full sun. Tolerates light afternoon shade, with decreased production as the trade off
• Soil requirements: Well-drained, compost-rich soil; provide extra magnesium and phosphorus 
• pH: 6.0 to 7.5
• Watering requirements: Intermittent to consistently moist; A total 1"-2" water per week in the "moats" is standard; increase if stems and leaves look wilted. Stressed vines negatively affect flavor

Melons are heavy feeders. Give them a balanced liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks. Keep the soil warm and weeds at bay with black plastic mulching, and put a layer of straw under developing melons to keep them dry. 

Germination & Growth

Tigger melons may be small, but they're prolific. Each vine may bear as many as 20 fruits, though you may wish to thin baby melons, leaving one for each 18" to 20" section of vine to ensure the best flavor. 

• Days to germination: 7-15 days at 65°F to 70°F
• Vine length: Up to 2' long
• Plant height: 8" to 10" tall
• Growth habit: Spreading, climbing
• Recommended spacing: See sowing instructions
• Days to Maturity: Tigger melons fully ripen 90 to 125 days after planting

Harvesting & Storage

Wait until the vine tendrils turn brown and the melons nearly separate themselves from the vine before you pick them. You'll smell their sweet, pineapple/cantaloupe aroma as soon as you enter your garden. Tigger melons continue to sweeten after harvest. Keep them in the refrigerator for about 10 days after harvesting.