Why You Shouldn't Plant Watermelon And Cantaloupe Side-By-Side

Summer melons boast countless benefits, from offering plenty of vitamin K to dietary fiber and potassium. It's only natural to plant watermelon and cantaloupe in your outdoor garden, especially if you're looking for a delicious addition to your fruit salad. And as they pertain to the same plant family, you might be tempted to grow them side-by-side. However, this can lead to pest-related issues for your melons, as they both attract bugs, including two-spotted spider mites, potentially opening them up to the same infestation. Instead, you should plant them away from one another. 

If you use planter boxes, you can consider putting them each inside their own planter. But this doesn't mean you can't have other plants nearby. There are many great companion plants that pair extremely well with cantaloupe and watermelon. Not only does this add some variety to your garden, but it works to prevent pests from infiltrating your crops. 

As you plant watermelon in your garden, you should familiarize yourself with the best companion plants for this type of melon. Look for ones that add some color and variety, such as marigolds. Even better, this flower naturally repels aphids. You can also plant some herbs in this area, along with radishes and lettuce, for a perfect salad. You'll have a well-rounded garden that helps your watermelon grow. 

Lettuce is very beneficial in the garden. Since it grows faster than watermelon, it quickly spreads out, covering the surface area around it. This is excellent for watermelon seeds as it helps them mature. On average, you'll have your lettuce ready for picking between seven and eight weeks. Your watermelon, however, takes upwards of 14 weeks before the fruit is ripe enough for you to pick. This means you won't have to worry about your lettuce taking up too much space in your garden. The watermelon will still have plenty of room to spread out and ripen.

Now that you know how to plant your watermelon and what plants best accompany it, you can focus on your cantaloupe. As long as it's planted away from the watermelon and with companion plants of its own, you'll find that it will thrive. Some of the best companion plants for cantaloupe include bush beans and collard greens. Bush beans boast shortened stems, meaning your cantaloupe still receives plenty of the coveted sunlight it needs to flourish. 

Collard greens can trap aphids since they're drawn to this leafy plant. These greens will offer your cantaloupes protection from aphids, which can be wiped away periodically with a damp paper towel. You can even use a hose to spray them off. Like lettuce, collard greens won't crowd your cantaloupes. You can pick them within 75 days, if not sooner, whereas cantaloupe takes upward of 90 days. Ultimately, you'll find that separating your watermelon and cantaloupe in the garden yields plenty of amazing produce with a lower risk of pest infestations.