Imperial 45 Melon

Transplant Imperial 45 seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures reach at least 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days before planting to reduce transplant shock. Space plants 48 inches apart in rows set 72 inches apart, planting at the same depth they grew in containers.

Direct sow Imperial 45 seeds outdoors once soil temperatures reach 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and frost danger has completely passed. Plant seeds 1 inch deep in prepared soil, spacing them 3 to 4 inches apart initially, then thin seedlings to final spacing of 48 inches within rows.

Harvest Imperial 45 melons when they reach mature size and the skin turns a full light golden color with a pronounced netted pattern. Press gently on the blossom end; ripe melons yield slightly to pressure and smell sweet and fragrant. Listen for a hollow sound when you tap the melon with your knuckles, another sign of ripeness. Pick melons in the morning when temperatures are cool, using a sharp knife to cut the stem rather than pulling. With a maturity window of 65 to 90 days from planting, most melons ripen in waves throughout the season.

Imperial 45 vines benefit from selective pruning to improve air circulation and redirect energy toward fruit production. Pinch back the main vine after it reaches 4 to 5 feet in length to encourage lateral branching, which typically produces more flowering side shoots. Remove any obviously diseased or damaged foliage promptly to prevent disease spread, and thin crowded leaves around developing fruits to improve sun exposure and air flow, which reduces powdery mildew pressure.