How to Grow Melons in Planters

Get sturdy planters. Use a strong plastic pot, a wood barrel or trough with a plastic liner. A 20-inch pot will suffice for one plant, though it is always safe to go a little larger in case your plants do exceptionally well. For two to three plants in one container, use a half-whiskey barrel or a large trough planter.

Purchase a seed packet for a small variety of melon, such as miniature seedless watermelon or a dwarf cantaloupe.

Give your plants sturdy support. Rig a strong wood trellis next to planters or put them against a chain link fence where vines can cling and spread. Put a layer of gravel on the bottom of your pot, about 2-inches deep, to promote good drainage and prevent soil from draining away through the bottom holes. Fill planters with a potting mix for fruits and vegetables. Mix in 2 to 4 cups of compost per plant to add nutrients and keep the soil rich.

Plant seeds when there is no danger of frost. For each plant you want, put about three seedlings into a hole and cover them lightly with 1/4 inch of soil. Water your planters lightly each day, being careful not to disturb the seedlings. Keep the soil damp, but avoid letting it get muddy. Thin seedlings when they reach about three inches tall. Since you planted three seeds in each hole, cut away the weakest two and leave the one strongest seedling in each spot.

Water melons daily to keep soil damp. Add a water-soluble fertilizer when your plants are about three weeks old, and every four to six weeks thereafter. Mulch around your plants with compost when they're 6 inches tall. Train your vines once they're about 8 inches tall by laying them over the support system. They will begin to cling to the support and spread out over it.

Slip a lightweight, stretchable, breathable bag over fruits carefully when they reach about the size of a baseball. Use a mesh onion sack or a leg cut from a pair of old pantyhose. Tie the bag to the support just above the melon it is holding. The weight of the growing melons can create stress on the vines. Putting them in a secured bag or holder will help cradle your melon as it grows without letting it weigh down the plant.

Cut back on watering about three weeks before you estimate the plant will be ready to harvest. Melons can be ready for harvest anywhere from 60 to 120 days after sprouting, so check your variety to calculate when you expect them to be ready. Three weeks before the expected harvest date, start letting the plant dry out slightly between watering sessions, though don't let it stay dry for long periods. Harvest your melons when they reach the ideal size and color for ripeness, depending on your variety. Untie the bag and use a sharp knife to free your melon from the vine.