How to Grow Melons with Manure

Plant melon seeds to a depth of 1 inch in the spring, after the danger of frost has passed in your area and the soil has warmed to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Check that the manure is well-rotted before planting your melons. Rotted manure is rich and dark and smells like fresh earth.

Space seeds according to the directions of the seed packet, as different varieties of melons require more or less room to grow. As a rule, plant three to six melon seeds in "hills" spaced 5 to 6 feet apart.

Water thoroughly to moisten the soil to a depth of 1 inch. Keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge in seven to 10 days. Reduce water to once or twice a week when the soil feels dry 1 inch below the surface.

Harvest melons when the tendrils near the fruit are brown and dry, the skin toughens and cannot be pierced easily with your fingernail and the underside turns from green to cream or yellow. Some melons, such a cantaloupes, slip easily from the stem when ripe and emit a fruity fragrance. According to the Fort Valley College of Agriculture, relying on the sound a melon makes when you rap on it with your knuckles is not a reliable method of determining if the melon is ripe, unless you are an expert in the art of melon picking.