The best way, IMO, is to heal itself in the air. I have a suggestion to protect them: wrap them loosely in nylon tulle. I dont think rats, squirrels will mess with that. They dont like to get tangled with the tulle and will go somewhere else.

Most varieties are 81-90 DTM so you will most likely have to provide frost protection later on. Really pushing the time frame because unless you have transplants you have add on germination time to that. But it be done. Try to find a short DTM variety for better chances. Dave

I've thought about growing melons indoors but have never done it. The main problem is space. Mature melon vines are large, typically around 6-8' square. The cost of electricity to light that large an area is considerable. You would have to run a 250W halide bulb for around 12 hours a day, which would cost $10 a month where I live. You would then hope to get 4-6 fruit. Melons also require heat and do best with daytime temperatures in the high 70s or higher. I would suggest taking a look at the hydroponic places for lights. The majority of their customers grow, um, tomatoes, yeah, tomatoes, and the cultural requirements of a tomato plant are very similar to those of a melon (Some hydroponic setups are intended for growing lettuce and culinary herbs like thyme and basil, which require less light and a somewhat different spectrum, so avoid those). The vines are delicate so you should get some friends to help with the move if possible. You should be aware that most storebought melons in the USA are hybrids that don't grow true from seed. You will get a melon, but it may not be a honeydew and may not grow especially large. For next year, you can purchase F1 hybrids like the growers use. I would recommend Athena as being the most reliable of the cantaloupe types, or Earlidew being a good honeydew type. There are also some open-pollinated "heirloom" types that are quite good though perhaps not as easy to grow as the hybrids. Melons are among the most difficult garden crops to grow. They require a relatively long growing season, warm temperatures, consistent watering, fertile soil, and protection from insects.

I plant my cantaloupes ,honey dews, canarys, crenshaws, and specialty melons like Dove under the same conditions. Most of the variation in production is related to variety. I have not had much luck with the original honeydew. Tam Dew is the only open pollinated honey dew that has done well so I usually stick to the earlier hybrids. The pickle worms arrive here around the Fourth of July and do a number on any immature cantaloupe, squash, cucumber.The newer varieties are not only earlier they usually have a good disease package. Our summers here are usually dry, but the older varieties are susceptible to PM in a wet season.