2026 Seed Inventory — Start Indoors: May

Melon - Key Growing Information
CULTURE:
A light, well-drained soil with a pH of 7.0 and a southern exposure is ideal. Good soil moisture is important in early stages of growth and during pollination when fruits are setting. After this point do not water the last week before fruits are ripe, as overwatering can cause bland fruit. Since melons like consistently warm conditions, plastic mulch and row covers will make for earlier crops and better yields, especially in the North. Remove covers when plants have female flowers (identified by the tiny fruit at base of blossom).
DAYS TO MATURITY:
From transplanting; add about 10 days if direct-seeded.
TRANSPLANTING:
Sow indoors in 50-cell plug trays or 2-3" biodegradable pots in late April or one month (no sooner!) before transplanting outdoors. Plant 3 seeds/cell or pot, about 1/4" deep. Keep temperature 80-90°F (27-32°C) until germination. Handle young plants carefully and never let the soil dry out. Grow seedlings at 75°F (24°C). Reduce water and temperature for a week to harden off seedlings. When the weather is frost-free, warm, and settled, transplant 2-3' apart in rows 6' apart or thin to 1 plant/cell or pot with scissors and transplant 18" apart. Even hardened off melon seedlings are tender. Do not disturb roots when transplanting, and water thoroughly.
DIRECT SEEDING:
Sow 1-2 weeks after last frost when soil is warm, above 70°F (21°C), 3 seeds every 18", 1/2" deep, thinning to 1 plant.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:
30 seeds/10', 100 seeds/50', 1M/500', 15M/acre at 3 seeds every 18" in rows 6' apart.
INSECT PESTS:
Protect against cucumber beetles with floating row covers applied at transplanting, or with insecticides such as pyrethrin or azadirachtin.
DISEASE:
Choose varieties resistant to diseases in your area. Sudden wilt (which is caused by cold weather stress in late summer when plants have a heavy set of ripening melons), can cause plants to wilt almost overnight. Keep plants healthy with good fertility and irrigation to prevent sudden wilt.
HARVEST:
Ripeness indicators vary by melon type. Most cantaloupes are ready when the gray-green color begins to change to buff-yellow and are harvested at "full slip" or when a light tug separates the fruit from the vine. Some types, like Canary and Crenshaw, require a bit more pressure to separate the fruit and are harvested at "forced slip." Others, like Honeydew, Charentais, and Piel de Sapo, are overripe by the time the stem can be tugged from the fruit; these must be cut from the vine. See product copy for when to harvest, as there are varietal differences.
STORAGE:
All melons should be stored at 85-95% relative humidity. Store ripe netted melons at 36-41°F (2-5°C); store other melons at 45-50°F (7-10°C) for 7-14 days.

Okra - Key Growing Information
CULTURE:
Sow in 2" pots or plug trays , 3 seeds per pot/cell, 1/4" deep. Start 4-5 weeks ahead of transplanting out after frost danger when soil is warm. Keep soil mix temp. 80-90°F (27-32°C) for fast germination. Thin to one plant per pot/cell. Transplant 12-18" apart in rows 3' apart. Do not disturb roots. Use row cover for added warmth to plants and soil.
DIRECT SEEDING:
After frost danger, sow 2" apart, 1/2" deep when soil is warm - at least 70°F (21°C). Thin to 12-18" apart.
HARVEST:
Harvest promptly by clipping pods at 3-4" long to keep plants productive. Oversized pods become tough.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:
1 oz./78', 13 oz./1,000', 12 lb./acre at 6 seeds/ft. in rows 36" apart.

Summer Squash - Key Growing Information
CULTURE:
Fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8–6.8 is best. Plastic mulch and fabric row covers (AG-19 grade) can aide plant establishment and exclude insect pests during the seedling stage. Row covers should be removed when plants begin to flower. Poor fruit development may indicate insufficient pollination.
DAYS TO MATURITY:
From direct seeding; for days to maturity from transplanting, subtract about 14 days.
PLANT SPACING:
Space plants 18-24" apart in rows 6' apart. Wider spacing may allow for easier harvesting.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:
(At 3 seeds/ft., rows 6' apart) 250 seeds/83', 500 seeds/166', 1,000 seeds/333'.
SUCCESSION PLANTING:
For highest quality fruit, succession plantings every 2-3 weeks may be needed.
INSECT PESTS AND DISEASE:
Common cucurbit diseases include powdery mildew, downy mildew, bacterial wilt, and phytophthora. Avoid problems with adequate soil drainage, good air flow, insect pest control, and crop rotation. If necessary, check with your local Cooperative Extension Service agent for specific control options.
HARVEST FRUIT:
For some varieties, it is common for the first fruits to be malformed, wither, or blacken, which indicates poor pollination and is usually remedied as more male flowers appear. Harvest regularly, 2-3 times a week, once plants begin to produce. Cut or gently twist off fruits when they have reached the desired size. For zucchini, 6-8" long; summer squash, 4-6"; and patty pan and round, 2-3" in diameter. Handle with care to avoid scratching fruits.
HARVEST BLOSSOMS:
Harvest male blossoms (with thin stems) or female blossoms (with thick stems and an immature fruit at the base of the flower) in mid to late morning when fully open. Clip flowers 1-2" below flower base. If a squash fruit crop is also desired from the same planting, only harvest male flowers, leaving a few to pollinate the female flowers.
STORAGE:
Keep fruit at 40-50°F (5-10°C), 95% relative humidity for up to 2 weeks. Use as soon as possible for best quality.

Watermelons - Key Growing Information
CULTURE:
A light, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5–7.5 and a southern exposure is ideal. Good soil moisture is important in early stages of growth and during pollination when fruits are setting. After this point do not water the last week before fruits are ripe, as overwatering can cause bland fruit. Since watermelons like consistently warm conditions, plastic mulch and row covers will make for earlier crops and better yields, especially in the North. Remove covers when plants have female flowers (tiny fruit at base of blossom).
DAYS TO MATURITY:
From transplanting; add about 10 days if direct-seeded.
TRANSPLANTING:
Sow indoors in 50-cell plug trays or 2–3" peat pots in late April or one month (no sooner!) before transplanting outdoors. Plant 2 seeds per cell or pot, about ½–1" deep. Keep temperature 80–90°F (27–32°C) until germination. Handle young plants carefully and never let the soil dry out. Grow seedlings at 75°F (24°C). Reduce water and temperature for a week to harden seedlings. When the weather is frost-free, warm, and settled, transplant 2–3' apart in rows 6–8' apart, or thin to 1 plant/pot or cell with scissors and transplant 18" apart. Even hardened watermelon seedlings are tender! Do not disturb roots when transplanting, and water thoroughly.
DIRECT SEEDING:
Sow 1–2 weeks after last frost when soil is warm, above 70°F (21°C), 3 seeds every 18–36", ½–1" deep, thinning to 1 plant/spot.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:
1 oz./340', 1,000 seeds/500', 3 oz./1,000', 1⅓ lb./acre at 3 seeds every 18", in rows 6' apart.
TRIPLOID/SEEDLESS VARIETIES ONLY:
Start indoors under favorable conditions to ensure proper germination. A pollenizer watermelon, or normal seeded watermelon, is required for fruit set. Seeds of a pollenizer and complete growing instructions are included with each order. Although the fruits are practically seedless, a few seeds may form under stressful conditions. For more information, see our Seedless Watermelon production guide.
INSECT PESTS:
Protect against cucumber beetles with floating row covers applied at transplanting, or control with insecticides such as pyrethrin or azadarachtin.
DISEASE:
Choose varieties resistant to diseases in your area. "Sudden wilt" is a complex disease and cold weather stress syndrome in late summer when plants have a heavy set of ripening watermelons, can cause plants to wilt almost overnight. Keep plants healthy with good fertility and irrigation to avoid sudden wilt.
RIPENESS:
There are 3 ways to tell when a watermelon is ripe: 1) the tendril nearest the point on the vine where fruit stem attaches is browning/dead; 2) the spot where the fruit rests on the ground changes from greenish white to a fuller yellow/orange/cream color; 3) when you flick the melon with your fingers you hear a dull, hollow sound; unripe watermelons have a higher pitched, slightly sharper tone.
STORAGE:
Hold at 45-50°F (7-10°C) and 85-95% relative humidity 2-3 weeks.

Winter Squash - Key Growing Information
CULTURE:
Fertile, well-drained soil is best.
FROM TRANSPLANTS:
Sow 2–3 seeds in 2" containers or plug trays 3 weeks before transplanting outdoors. Thin to 1–2 plants/cell with scissors. Transplant after frost danger when weather is warm and settled. Plants should be spaced 18" apart for bush and small-fruited varieties, with 4–5' between rows. Plants should be spaced 24–36" apart for large-fruited varieties, with 6–12' between rows. Take care not to disturb roots! Plastic mulch and fabric row covers will help plant establishment, reduce weed pressure, and exclude insect pests.
DIRECT SEEDING:
Sow in late spring after frost danger when soil is warm, minimum 62°F (17°C) for treated seeds and 70°F (21°C) for untreated seeds — seeds will rot in cool soil, especially cool, wet soil. Sow 1-2 seeds every 12" (24-36" for large-fruited varieties) 1/2–1" deep. Thin to 1 plant per spot. Rows 6' apart, 12' apart for larger fruit.
DISEASES:
Cucumber beetles can carry bacterial wilt and must be controlled. Gummy stem blight (black rot) causes black, sunken spots to appear on fruits in storage and the tan scabby patches on butternuts in the field. Downy mildew may occur in damp weather. Powdery mildew can occur in hot or cold temperatures, or during dry periods. Consult your local Cooperative Extension agent for specific fungicide control. Choose well-drained soil to avoid Phytophthora.
SPRING COLD PROTECTION:
AG-19 or DuraSpun-55 (or heavier grade) floating row covers will provide about 4° of frost protection and add warmth for vigor and an earlier harvest.
INSECT PESTS:
Protect young plants with floating row covers Kaolin clay. Cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and vine borers can be a challenge. Pyrethrin offers some control. Squash bug eggs laid on the underside of leaves may be located and crushed. Keep borders well mowed. For vine borers, cut out of vines and hill soil over the wound. Clean up refuse in the fall, and spring-plow the ground to bury the pupae. The Moschata type has solid vines usually not bothered by borers.
FALL FROST:
Frost kills leaves and can thus facilitate harvest; however, temperatures below 28°F/-2°C can also damage fruits and cause spotting and poor storage. Mature fruits can usually tolerate 1 and sometimes 2 or 3 light frosts without substantial damage. Sprinkler irrigation wards off moderate frost damage to fruits.
HARVEST:
Before heavy frost, cut stems about 1" from the fruit when stem is drying and skin is hardening. Handle fruits gently, as they can bruise easily.
POST HARVEST:
Cure in the field to dry and toughen skins by exposing fruits to sun for 5–7 days or so, covering in the evening if frost is likely. Varieties with dark green skin are more susceptible to sunburn, so may need to be cured out of direct sunlight. An indoor method of curing is to expose squash to 80–90°F (27–32°C) with ventilation for 3–5 days.
STORAGE:
Store at 55–60°F (12–15°C), 50–75% relative humidity, and good air circulation. An accumulation of sub 50°F (10°C) exposure events causes chilling injury, reducing storage life.
DAYS TO MATURITY:
From direct seeding; subtract about 14 days if transplanting.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATES:
(At 2 seeds/ft., rows 6' apart.) Group 1: Hubbard, Kuri 50'/oz., 850'/lb., 8 1/2lb./acre. Group 2: Buttercup, Kabocha, Spaghetti, 75'/oz., 1,250'/lb., 5 3/4 lb./acre. Group 3: Butternut, Acorn, 155'/oz., 2,500'/lb., 3 lb./acre. Group 4: Delicata, Sweet Dumpling 225'/oz., 3,750'/lb., 2 lb./acre.