Customer Service Hours
Mon-Fri 8-4 MST
Features
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Native
Africa, Asia, Australia, West Pacific Islands
Life Cycle
Annual
Plant Height
Vine
Further Information
Growing Conditions
Frost Sensitive
About Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe/Muskmelon Melon Seeds
Cucumis melo
Firm, juicy, and aromatic; up to 6" diameter, 3 pounds, with deep orange flesh. Skin is ribbed and heavily netted. Cross between 'Osage' and 'Nettedgem' from 1890.
Planting Melon
Days to Maturity
80 days
Plant Spacing
2–3 seeds per mound
Light Required
Full sun
Plant Height
Vine
Planting Depth
¼"
Coverage & Planting Details
| Coverage | This packet sows up to 16 mounds. |
|---|---|
| Row Spacing | 4'–6' apart |
| Seed Depth | ¼" |
| Seed Spacing | 2–3 seeds per mound |
| Thinning | Thin to 1 plant per mound |
| Germination | 5–10 days |
| Start Indoors | Recommended for short-season areas. 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting within 2 weeks after your average last frost date. Sow into biodegradable pots that can be directly planted in the ground; roots are sensitive to disturbance. |
| Direct Sow | RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is 70°–90°F. |
| Growing & Harvesting | Harvesting at the right time is very important with melons. Commercial growers harvest before melons are ripe, forcing them to ripen off the vine, but the last few days of ripening on the vine put a lot of sugars into the melon. Consequently, melons taste significantly better when vine ripened. How do you know when melons are ripe? Use these indicators: 1) The color between the surface netting is brown, not green. 2) A ripe melon will have a pleasant, fruity aroma at the blossom end. 3) A crack will form on the stem right near the point of attachment. This is called the "slip stage" and in a few days, the melon will detach from the vine with little effort and pressure. If it is somewhat difficult to detach the fruit from the vine, the melon is not ready yet. Do not allow to over-ripen. |
Find Your Frost Date & Grow Zone
Average First Frost Date
October 19
Average Last Frost Date
May 19
Your Hardiness Zone is
5b
Send Your Recommendation
Total 5 star reviews: 11 Total 4 star reviews: 2 Total 3 star reviews: 1 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 1
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Which best describes you as a gardener?
15 reviews
- William S.VA, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 3 out of 5 stars7/1/26Diseased
Last year I didnt have much luck with any of my cataloupes. Something got to them, maybe a blight, but none of the 6 made it out alive. All my other melons did well. Trying again this year. So far so good!
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? Raised BedBIBotanical Interests7/5/26Hey William,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I'm sorry to hear about the challenges you faced with your cantaloupes last year - plant diseases can be really frustrating to deal with. It's great to hear that your other melons did well though, and that you're giving it another shot this year with positive results so far! Your persistence and feedback are invaluable to us, and we're rooting for a successful harvest this season. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Cindy T.TX, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars6/7/26Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe
These seem to be growing well. Do not have fruit yet
Which best describes you as a gardener? BeginnerWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? Raised Bed - Henry A.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars5/4/26These are my wife’s favorite.
They produced Many delicious melons, more than we needed and our neighbors love them too.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests5/7/26Hey Henry,
What a great problem to have - so many delicious Hearts of Gold melons that you had plenty to share with the neighbors! We love that your wife's favorites turned out to be such incredible producers and that you're spreading the joy of homegrown cantaloupe throughout the neighborhood! Sharing is caring! Thanks for sharing your fantastic growing success with us! Keep on growing 🌻️
- Tiffany T.Verified BuyerRated 1 out of 5 stars4/22/26No germination
These didn't germinate at all. I had a packet of the same variety from BI, 2024 year, and they all germinated.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests5/3/26Hey Tiffany,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We’ve reached out via email to help. Quality is very important to us, and all of our seeds are regularly third-party tested to ensure strong germination rates. In many cases, germination issues are related to environmental factors like moisture, temperature, or planting depth. We appreciate your feedback and support — keep on growing 🌻
- Priscilla D. G.CA, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars4/11/26Amazing!
Such a classic and staple to grow, easy too.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? Raised Bed