melons
 

I am located in zone 8b and our last frost date is around march 20. My question is it too late to start melons (watermelon and muskmelon) from seed and still get a decent crop? I was going to plant some at a small farm I have and wondered if they would be worth planting to get a crop . I ordered some seed about 5 weeks ago (the right time to start them) and just now got them.

Melon seeds need fairly warm soil to germinate. I normally plant melons in the garden about two weeks after my last frost date. If your last frost is normally next week, I'd say you got your seeds at the right time. If you choose to start them indoors, now is just right.

I've actually had better success planting melon seeds directly in well-enriched soil than trying to grow in seed starting mix indoors. They take off like a rocket when planted in the ground. Check out your 10 day forecast ([URL="http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=pensacola%2C+fl"]Pensacola @ WUnderground.com[/URL] for example)and if evening temps look good, give it a shot. ;) I'd plant a few seeds and keep some in reserve.

I agree with feldon... I usually plant seed directly in the ground in hills around May 1st or last week in April. I always have great sucess with melons.
GIZZARD

[COLOR=black]+2...I direct seed all my melon varieties after a couple years of starting. 25% of the time the seedlings would die with one bad night. [/COLOR]