Grow heirloom Tigger melons from seed this season as a delicious and strikingly colorful alternative to muskmelon and honeydew. Don't let their exotic stripes fool you: If you can grow watermelons, you've got this!
The Tigger melon—named for the beloved A.A. Milne character, but also called "tiger melon"—is a Cucumis melo (cantaloupe) variety. It's believed to have been developed by artisan market gardeners in Armenia, and of course as a heritage species its non-GMO. As with all melons, you'll want to order your Tigger melon seeds in plenty of time to get a head start on your garden as they take up to 125 days to mature. The Tigger melon itself rarely grows larger than a softball, weighing about a pound. We'd say that this alone makes them the perfect single-serving snack, but its the white, creamy insides—which taste like the very best cantaloupe you've ever had—reinforces the old saying, "great things come in small packages".
Here's another appropriate saying: "You can't have your Tigger and eat it too!" When they reach ripeness, the mottled gold stripes against a deep orange or red background look too gorgeous to slice. That's probably why the fruit emits an enticing, mouth-watering fragrance throughout your home when you bring it in from the garden.
This variety has aggressive tendrils, perfect for trellising. Or you can go with the traditional mound-and-moat arrangement. Select a spot that receives full sun and that has plenty of room for the vines to spread or climb.
SOWING THE SEED
You'll likely want to start your plants indoors to get a head start. Tigger melon is a late-maturing variety. If you plant outdoors, mound up 3' diameter hills (6" to 10" tall) and plant a trio of seeds three inches apart (in a triangle) at the top of each mound. Mounds should be 4' to 5' apart, measuring from the centers. Shore up "moats" at the bases of your mounds for irrigating established plants.
Seed preparation: Soak seeds in lukewarm water for a few hours prior to seeding
Sowing/transplanting outside: Two weeks after last frost date and/or soil is consistently at least 65°F-70°F
Sowing indoors: 6 to 8 weeks before last spring frost; 1 seed per 4" nursery pot
Seed depth: 1/2" to 1" below soil surface
GROWING CONDITIONS
Tigger melons are long-season vegetables technically suited to USDA zones 4-10 and need heat to thrive. They're more drought-tolerant than most other melons, though we recommend watering them every few days. Tiggers and most other melons need heat and complete drought in the week leading up to harvest to concentrate the natural sugars as the fruit ripens. Some gardeners withdraw irrigation up to two weeks.
Sunlight requirements: Full sun. Tolerates light afternoon shade, with decreased production as the trade off
Soil requirements: Well-drained, compost-rich soil; provide extra magnesium and phosphorus. pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Watering requirements: Intermittent to consistently moist; A total 1"-2" water per week in the "moats" is standard; increase if stems and leaves look wilted. Stressed vines negatively affect flavor
Melons are heavy feeders. Give them a balanced liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks. Keep the soil warm and weeds at bay with black plastic mulching, and put a layer of straw under developing melons to keep them dry.
GERMINATION & GROWTH
Tigger melons may be small, but they're prolific. Each vine may bear as many as 20 fruits, though you may wish to thin baby melons, leaving one for each 18" to 20" section of vine to ensure the best flavor.
Days to germination: 7-15 days at 65°F to 70°F.
Vine length: Up to 2' long
Plant height: 8" to 10" tall
Growth habit: Spreading, climbing
Recommended spacing: See sowing instructions.
Days to Maturity: Tigger melons fully ripen 90 to 125 days after planting
Wait until the vine tendrils turn brown and the melons nearly separate themselves from the vine before you pick them. You'll smell their sweet, pineapple/cantaloupe aroma as soon as you enter your garden. Tigger melons continue to sweeten after harvest. Keep them in the refrigerator for about 10 days after harvesting.
Front Side
Seed packets by Seed Needs are beautifully illustrated and provide a colorful depiction of the variety inside. We provide the common name, as well as the scientific name, seed quantity and a few specs about the variety to be grown.
Back Side
Each packet contains full growing instructions on the reverse side. Specifications on sowing the seed, growing conditions such as sunlight and moisture preferences and germination and growth information can be found as well. We also provide a QR to scan for easy reordering.
- Always Non-GMO / Untreated.
- Stored in a temperature controlled facility that's free of moisture.
- Always packaged for the current and the following growing seasons.
- True to the varieties advertised.
- 99% pure seed with no added fillers.
- Always Non-GMO / Untreated.
- Stored in a temperature controlled facility that's free of moisture.
- Always packaged for the current and the following growing seasons.
- True to the varieties advertised.
- 99% pure seed with no added fillers.
Always fresh and intended for the current and following growing seasons. Seeds are packaged in water resistant / tear resistant packaging.
Heirlooms are varieties that have been purposely bred, selected and passed down from generation to generation. They are wholesome picks that will breed true to the parent seed every time.
Seed Needs never knowingly purchases treated seeds products. We also do not treat any of our seed products with substances such as neonicotinoid or thyram.
Seed Needs promises to never knowingly purchase or supply genetically modified seed products. We take the Safe Seed Pledge!
A SEED COMPANY ON A MISSION FOR CHANGE
Seed Needs has been providing gardeners with quality seed products since 2010 and has shipped millions of packets to happy customers all over the US. We offer flowers, herbs, vegetables, vines, wildflower blends, seed packet collections and seed packet favors.
With the success of our brand, we have kept our promise to continually donate to different organizations and personally sponsor children all over the globe each and every month. We grew our sponsorships from just 1 child to over 100 children worldwide in only a few years. We would like to sincerely thank all who support us because it wouldn't be possible without you!
Check out our charitable contributions!
A SEED COMPANY ON A
MISSION FOR CHANGE
Seed Needs has been providing gardeners with quality seed products since 2010 and has shipped millions of packets to happy customers all over the US. We offer flowers, herbs, vegetables, vines, wildflower blends, seed packet collections and seed packet favors.
With the success of our brand, we have kept our promise to continually donate to different organizations and personally sponsor children all over the globe each and every month. We grew our sponsorships from just 1 child to over 100 children worldwide in only a few years. We would like to sincerely thank all who support us because it wouldn't be possible without you!
Check out our charitable contributions!