FruitMelon
Tremendous Melon
Tremendous Melon lives up to its name: an F1 hybrid Casaba that produces some of the largest melons you'll ever harvest, with individual fruits weighing 8 pounds or more. Despite its impressive size, this variety doesn't skimp on flavor, offering thick orange flesh that's both sweet and satisfying. Bred for heat tolerance and vigor, it matures in 100 to 109 days and grows as a sprawling annual vine that can extend 8 to 10 feet if given room to roam. Hardy across zones 2 through 13 and requiring full sun and moderate water, Tremendous thrives in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses alike.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
15 in
Height
TypeVining
Spacing
48
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-13
Size
15in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The defining trait here is sheer abundance: you're growing melons that can exceed 8 pounds on vigorous vines designed to produce prolifically in hot conditions. The thick orange flesh delivers genuine flavor that justifies the plant's vigor, not the bland bulk of a mere novelty. This hybrid's heat tolerance means it actually thrives during the warmest months when many other melons struggle, and its resistance to Anthracnose, Bacterial Wilt, Downy Mildew, Fusarium Wilt, and Powdery Mildew gives it staying power against common garden pressures.
Common Uses
These are dessert melons through and through: slice them fresh for the table, scoop the thick orange flesh directly from the rind, or cut into wedges for a dramatic presentation at summer gatherings. The substantial size makes them excellent for larger households or for sharing, while the sturdy flesh holds up well to handling and storage.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last frost date, sowing in individual pots at a temperature of 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged until germination occurs.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days before moving them outdoors. Transplant after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant at the spacing noted above: 48 inches between plants and 72 inches between rows.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil temperature reaches 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant 2 to 3 seeds per hill and thin to the strongest seedling once plants are established.
Harvesting
Tremendous melons mature in 100 to 109 days from transplanting. Harvest when the skin develops a pale golden or creamy color and the melon yields slightly to thumb pressure at the blossom end. A ripe melon will also emit a sweet, musky fragrance at the stem. Cut the melon from the vine with a sharp knife rather than twisting, leaving 2 to 3 inches of stem attached.
Pruning
Pinch back the main vine once it reaches 6 to 8 feet to encourage branching and more prolific fruiting. Remove any side shoots that develop below the first flowering node to direct energy upward. On trellised plants, gently tie vines to supports using soft twine as they grow, keeping the canopy open for air circulation.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucumis melo
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucumis
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)