Is it time to start off melons?

[supersprout]

Melon seed arrived yesterday, yay!
Is it about the right time to be sowing melons do you think, or should I wait another couple of weeks? :P ??? :)

Varieties:

Ogen
Ananas (pineapple)
Banana melon

[supersprout]

[tim]

In or out??

[supersprout]

Sowing all in, growing all but one melon in, one of each outdoors just to see how they do :)

[Squashmad]

I've already started mine Sarah - started them in a propogator and now that they have developed first pair of true leaves they have been potted up into individual pots and put in the polytunnel under fleece - they seem to be fine.

[tim]

A bit early for outdoor ones??

Here's one view - http://www.gardenadvice.co.uk/howto/greenhouse/melon/index.html

[Curryandchips]

Well I have been trying for a couple of weeks, but just getting the ruddy things to germinate is my problem, varieties Ogen, and Sweetheart. No problems with temperature, as my shelf at work is lovely and warm.

[supersprout]

I'm getting mixed results from my squash sprouting trials too curry, Turks Turban, Marina di Chioggia, Sibley and Blue Hubbard either didn't come at all or only one of two seeds sprouted for potting on. Hope to have better luck with the melons :-[

Both Dill's Atlantic Giant sprouted, watch out 8)

[terces]

I have been sowing melons indoors for the last two months without success.  germination is no problem, but as soon as I pot them on they start to wither at the tip and within 3 days have given up the ghost. :'(

[DenBee]

Oh dear.  And here was me sitting congratulating myself on my successful germination of 4 out of 6 Charentais melon seeds.  I haven't potted them on yet, because only one of them is showing signs of true leaves.  When I do I shall be watching anxiously.

I've also sown some watermelons, but that was just a few days ago.

[terces]

Oh dear DenBee,

Exactly the same happened with my watermelons!

[luath]

My melons are well up, so to speak............ ;D They need the same tratment as cucumbers - lots of warmth and not too much water.

[sweet-pea]

Before reading this thread I hadn't considered trying to grow melons, but now I'm tempted to give it a go.  So being as I don't have a proper greenhouse I was wondering whether it is possible to grow melons outdoors, and if so what varieties are most suited.

Thanks

Sweet-pea

[supersprout]

When I asked this question earlier in the year, a lot of people recommended sweetheart :)
But it was all 'out of stock'! :'(
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,16947.0

[sweet-pea]

Thanks Supersprout :-)  I shall keep a lookout for seeds unless anyone has a couple spare.

[RobinOfTheHood]

I've read somewhere that 'Minnesota Midget' is the most likely to succeed outdoors, I'll be trying these and 'Sweetheart'  this year.   :)

[carloso]

im trying the sweetheart one this yr, First go at melons so we'll see

errr bit early i hope not as i have 5 about 3" high at the momment in the consetrvatory and its not that hot in there

fingers crossed

carl

[weedin project]

Mine are up to 4 leaves now and sitting in pots in an unheated greenhouse. 

Never crossed my mind that it might be too early...... I hope it's not :-\

[carloso]

any ideas on watering them regular ?

i have made up a bit of old water pipe to a 2L lemonade bottle, with the idea of a cheapy drip feed as i have used or will do on my aub's and tom's etc

i have put some tissue down the puipe to slow the trickle down to an almost stop which works very nice but weither disintgrates or lets to much through any ideas for a better material to use in the pipe ?

i just want to try and keep a constant feed to keep it moist but not wet also toyed with the ida of making a circle at the bottle with a few holes drilled in to widen the area ?

carl

[supersprout]

Would an old bath or washing up sponge do the same job as the tissues? ::)

[jennym]

Maybe use natural sisal rope to act as a wick? Or a cotton rag to slow the trickle down?