Melons are grown on the flat, on ridges or on raised beds. The choice of system usually follows the local custom which has developed according to irrigation systems used and the soil’s drainage character
Seeds are usually sown direct, two to three per station, thinning to a single
plant as soon as practical. The row width used depends on the vigour of the
cultivar as well as the need for irrigation channels. Rows are from 1.25 to
2.0 m apart.
Distances between plants within the rows are 90 cm at the narrower
row widths and down to 30 cm at the wider row widths: 2 kg of seed can
be sown in 1 ha. Large-scale producers drill the seed on the flat.
The leaders and laterals are stopped when there are about four fruits per
plant.