Don't know how much difference there would be between growing melons in Texas versus Nebraska, but there are three keys to growing melons here.
1. Relatively light soils. Sandy loam is ideal but I'd take pure blow sand over clay loam, let alone anything heavier.
2. Lots of sun and heat.
3. Quit watering and pray it doesn't rain much once the plants start blooming. Nothing ruins melons (both in terms of production and flavor) like too much moisture while the fruits are developing.
