Melons
Melons run on warm-season field ground across the basin. Their pollen is sticky and heavy — wind won't move it — so every melon on the vine is the work of a bee carrying pollen from a male flower to a female one, flower by flower, through the heat of summer.
Set to the field, not a chart.
| Planting & row spacing | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Standard plantingsestablished vines, native bees present | ~1colonies / acre |
| Early & seedless blockstriploid melons, pollenizer rows | 2–3colonies / acre |
Melon pollen is insect-carried, so even one strong colony per acre changes the crop. One colony per acre is a common minimum, stepping up to two or three for early plantings and seedless (triploid) blocks that need extra visits and dedicated pollenizer rows. Placing colonies in groups through the field, not just on the edge, gives the most even fruit set.
Strong colonies, in the right place, on time.
- Set in the field, not the edgeBest pollination is closest to the colonies — we place them in groups throughout the field.
- More bees for seedlessTriploid (seedless) blocks need extra visits and pollenizer rows; we lift the rate to match.
- Strong colonies in the heatWarm-season bloom rewards strong colonies foraging through long summer days.
- Health tracked through the jobStrength and mite pressure are monitored before and during.
If you want to go deeper.
Independent university-extension and research sources on melons pollination — useful background as we plan your season together.
These figures are general industry recommendations, not a fixed price or a promise of a specific colony count. Final stocking is set per field with you, based on acreage, planting density, variety and bloom conditions. External links open third-party sites we don't control.
Planning melons for the coming season?
Tell us your acreage and bloom window and we'll talk through colony numbers, timing and placement.