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
In or out??
Sowing all in, growing all but one melon in, one of each outdoors just to see how they do :)
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.
A bit early for outdoor ones??
Here's one view - http://www.gardenadvice.co.uk/howto/greenhouse/melon/index.html
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.
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)
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. :'(
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.
Oh dear DenBee,
Exactly the same happened with my watermelons!
My melons are well up, so to speak............ ;D They need the same tratment as cucumbers - lots of warmth and not too much water.
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
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
Thanks Supersprout :-) I shall keep a lookout for seeds unless anyone has a couple spare.
I've read somewhere that 'Minnesota Midget' is the most likely to succeed outdoors, I'll be trying these and 'Sweetheart' this year. :)
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
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 :-\
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
Would an old bath or washing up sponge do the same job as the tissues? ::)
Maybe use natural sisal rope to act as a wick? Or a cotton rag to slow the trickle down?
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
First signs of Sweetheart germination, three plants showing, just crossing my fingers and toes now ...
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 ???
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.
Quote from: carloso on April 20, 2006, 22:10:27
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.
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!
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!
Quote from: sweet-pea on April 21, 2006, 11:58:29
Tip was from 'Lasagna gardening' book,can't remember author at the mo'
Is that John Yeoman's 'Lazy Kitchen Gardener'? Corking book ;D
I've got some waiting to germinate in my propagator, they will be moving to a cold frame later.
Quote from: supersprout on April 21, 2006, 13:36:36
Quote from: sweet-pea on April 21, 2006, 11:58:29
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 :)
Wow, a whole book on it! How can I resist? On my Amazon wish list, thank you sweet-pea ;D
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.
Thanks for advice on melon growing conditions in the 'hood cleo 8) Will you be growing any yourself this year?