I'm growing melons for the first time and was wondering how long it will take until I get a ripe melon.

I am growing growing a Hale's Best, a Sugarbaby Watermelon, and an Isreal melon(just one plant of each). The Hale's Best cantaloupe and Israel melons have plenty of tiny babies on them with the largest fruits about the size of a golf ball. How long will take for the fruits to become full grown?

I live in Texas so we have plenty of heat and sun. July and Aug. averages are highs in the high 90's and lows in the low 80's. In February, I added a foot or so of compost to the planting area and plenty of fertilizer. After the plants came up(direct seeded in late April) I mulched heavily with compost and leaves. I have watered pretty regularly throughout. The plants have really taken off in the last couple weeks. I plan to fertilize with some liquid fish emulsion and add some slow release organic pellets this weekend to give the plants a boost.

I read that melons are in the same family as cucumbers, which I've had good success with this year. Once my cucumbers are pollinated they mature really fast. Do melons grow so fast?

Thanks,

Pete