Well, by now you've got something to look at that will inform your efforts going forward.

Another consideration to add to the mix is the possibility of growing vertically. Not knowing anything about your situation or intent, or limitations, city lot, bigger city lot, suburban space allotment, some acreage, North slope or what region of the landmass even you might be located in .... all that's got to play into your approach. Are you hoping to market garden? I can't really speak to that. Somewhere in my early readings from Rodale or Gardenway Publications, or Gardens For All the precursor to the long defunct National Gardening Magazine the idea to concentrate the solar heat to the roots by planting in old tires. Friend and roommate '78-'82 grew some small variety watermelons successfully here Portland OR, with soil mounded inside some dark painted scrap wood walls with good solar exposure. I believe he had some detached transparent cover he would employ at different times in the life cycle.    Meanwhile, my youngest son has been gardening in general and growing a mix of melons on vertical netting for a few years running now. Those are in a hoop house about 8'hx12-14'w, also in Portland, successfully with the exception of having the raccoons find their way through last Saturday night and having the pick of the ripest. I think Curley may have started the seeds in the ground. My son has started the seeds and planted out the starts; this year planted purchased starts. That soil is raised in rows, he adds new topsoil yearly, has drip irrigation. This year they're small leafed vines planted pretty tightly 12-18". Seems to be working.