"Growing Melons"

Growing melons in your garden is very possible, although if you live in the UK or other climate with a not-so-long growing season, you may have to grow them under glass or plastic. They need a long season to produce fully matured fruits, and benefit from starting off under glass even if you can put them straight out in the garden later.

Save a few seeds from melons you buy and try planting them in the spring; not all seeds will germinate but you may get a couple of plants without having to pay for the seed. Starting your plants from bought seed will normally produce a bigger and better crop though.

Growing melons in the UK with Thompson and Morgan Growing melons in the UK and the US link for Thompson and Morgan: Growing melons in the US For all other countries start here on their homepage and choose your country.

Growing melons - Planting: Start the seed off in small pots in the greenhouse or other warm and light place. Sow 2 - 3 seeds per pot and when they come up, remove the weaker ones. If seed is in short supply, try putting one in each pot. Use a good seed compost and make sure the pots are well drained. Keep the compost moist and watch out for slugs.

Bio-degradeable pots are a good option because you can plant the whole pot, which reduces damage to the roots of your small plants when you plant them out.

Melons are in the same family as pumpkin and courgettes. It's almost impossible, unless you have a trained eye, to tell the difference between the plants when they are small, although pumpkin leaves tend to be bigger. Make sure you place a marker in your pots. Place a dozen or so pots in a tray ( an old paint roller tray works well ) and put one marker for the whole tray.

After all danger of frost has passed, the plants can be put out in the garden, although if the nights are still a bit chilly, cover them over with a cloche at night, and remove during the day to allow the plants to get enough air cirulation.

Melons are high in water content. The roots will rot if planted in waterlogged soil and if the air circulation is poor, the leaves will very quickly die off.

Plant out when the plants have at least 4 true leaves ( not counting the first two ) and as soon as the soil warms up a little. Nurture the plants for the first few weeks. Make sure they get enough water, and warmth and keep weed-free.

As the plants get bigger they produce lots of foliage and don't allow so many weeds to penetrate. Leave enough space between your plants.

Check on your seed packet for the growing recommendations of your particular variety, or allow about a metre between plants.

Growing Melons - looking after them: During hot dry weather, melons should be watered as much as twice every day. The roots, although they must never allowed to be waterlogged, require water in great quantities to produce fully mature fruits. Some growers sink a large plastic water bottle into the ground next to each plant. Cut off the bottom of the bottle carefully. Push into the ground, and water by pouring into the top of the bottle. Leave the bottle cap on when you've finished watering, to help prevent slug attacks.

When the fruits start forming, lift gently off of the soil by placing on a board or stone, or clean straw. Make sure you don't pull the stem from the plant. They are quite strong plants though. Always water from the roots. Watering the leaves can cause damage, especially if watering while the sun is shining.

Harvest your melons when you can twist the stem and it comes off in your hands. If the weather turns nasty and you think the melons may not fully ripen, they will sometimes ripen off after harvesting. Keep in a dry place ( away from mice ) for a few days. Remember to save some seeds for next year!

Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!

Happy Gardening!

More "Fruit" Reading

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