Topic: Is it time to start off melons?

[carloso]

i have both the ideas under experiment as we type !


is anyone planting there seedlings through black plastic ? as i read this greatly helps them with soil temp too and of course the weeds down,
Just to spoil them Melon shed one is under construction (ok its a cold frame !) but i figured if these creatures require a reasonable temp them maybe even in our reasonable summer with the black plastic on the ground warming there feet and a bit of a jocket (the cold fraame) they should nearly do aswell itll be just a fine balance of keeping that warm draft circualting !

carl

[Curryandchips]

First signs of Sweetheart germination, three plants showing, just crossing my fingers and toes now ...

[flossie]

Sent for my melon seeds last week from the Real Seed catalogue.  Has anybody used their seed before?

They are "seraching for the ultimate early melon. "

Have ordered "Collective Farm Woman" - an old Ukranian variety ...said to ripen in Moscow and keep for several weeks after picking..sweet crisp flesh.

I will let you know how it survives in the East Midlands.

Flossie ???

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'll be interested to know, since I was looking at their melon page the other day. I'm trying them for the first time this year; I've been putting loads of their seed in, and so far everything's germinated well apart from the sweet corn, which was eaten by a mouse.

[Rhys]

i have both the ideas under experiment as we type !


is anyone planting there seedlings through black plastic ? as i read this greatly helps them with soil temp too and of course the weeds down,
Just to spoil them Melon shed one is under construction (ok its a cold frame !) but i figured if these creatures require a reasonable temp them maybe even in our reasonable summer with the black plastic on the ground warming there feet and a bit of a jocket (the cold fraame) they should nearly do aswell itll be just a fine balance of keeping that warm draft circualting !

carl

I always plant through black plastic with good results - as you say it keeps the weeds down and warms the soil.

[sweet-pea]

I found a great tip for keeping a constant supply of water to plants, very similar to yours Carlos.  Basically you take a plastic bottle, make a small hole in the bottom, and sink it into the ground when you plant your seedlings.  You just fill up the bottle and it gradually waters your plants.
I was going to give it a go this year.

Tip was from 'Lasagna gardening' book,can't remember author at the mo'

And I was going to plant my squashes, and melon (if I can get some seed) through black membrane to make use of the area I haven't dug over yet!

[weedin project]

you could try a short length (couple of inches) of seeper hose per bottle - the stuff that just releases a constant series of dew-drops  :'( :'( :'( :'(  along its length.

You'd need to make sure it is well sealed at the open end though!

[supersprout]

Tip was from 'Lasagna gardening' book,can't remember author at the mo'

Is that John Yeoman's 'Lazy Kitchen Gardener'? Corking book ;D

[amphibian]

I've got some waiting to germinate in my propagator, they will be moving to a cold frame later.

[sweet-pea]

Tip was from 'Lasagna gardening' book,can't remember author at the mo'

Is that John Yeoman's 'Lazy Kitchen Gardener'? Corking book ;D

No, just googled and it's by a Patricia Lanza.  Haven't finished reading it yet but picked up a couple of good ideas from it.  Like the sound of John's book though  :)

[supersprout]

Wow, a whole book on it! How can I resist? On my Amazon wish list, thank you sweet-pea  ;D

[cleo]

Oh well if we are going to talk about super sprout`s   melons. Not too easy outdoors where we live-but a cold frame could make all the difference. Train one stem to each corner.

[supersprout]

Thanks for advice on melon growing conditions in the 'hood cleo 8) Will you be growing any yourself this year?