I didn't mean to harvest it yet. Today for the first time it started smelling like a melon, the dark green areas started going dark yellow and I was worried about not knowing when to harvest. I wanted to look at the color on the bottom, see if the end would give a little and..........the stem let go, just like that. Took it home, cut it and ate part, fan-tas-tic flavor.
Next one I'm going to leave a bit longer (if I can keep my mitts off of it hahah). This type is called ananas (pineapple) melon, it was grown in a small poly tunnel that I leave open when the weather is warm. In the beginning it was kept closed so I hand pollinated.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v168/fergina/volkstuin/melon1_resize.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v168/fergina/volkstuin/melon2_resize.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v168/fergina/volkstuin/melon3_resize.jpg)
(excuse my grubby garden hands)
Oh boy Ina does that look good.Well done .Hope mine are as good somehow i doubt it .mmmmmmn can almost taste it.
Oh Ina! How could you!! That looks positively devine! Right, after supper at Tims I am popping over to your for desert! :P You clever allotmenteer you!
Only if I can ride your motorcycle.
Hope thee's enough to go round 'cos I'm coming too! Love melon but have never grown them - maybe next year.....
Had a cat who loved melon - she would sit for ages licking a slice and purring inbetween slurps!
Make that three.....could almost feel and taste it in my mouth.....need a drool emoticon here badly!!!
Eileen.
Ina i have just spooned a cyber slice it looked the business.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm tasted lovely. What great pictures!.
Hahahaha, that'll be tiny pieces for everyone.
Isn't it just amazing one can grow wonderful things like this melon in an allotment? Pure luxury.
There are 13 more on a total of four plants but I don't think the season will be long enough for most of them. At least four are big enough to make it, maybe more. I think I'll cut a few of the smallest ones off to give others a better fighting chance.
Pinch out & cover with cloches to encourage them? = Tim
My mouth is watering. yummy!
Ina one word ... gorgeous! :D
You should try growing a musk melon? vivaverde do the seeds, it looks delicious! XXX Jemma
Thanks for the tip G3, I'll check it out.
I was thinking of trying cantaloupe next year too but this one is so good, I'll have to do it again. Space for 4 plants only.
Some of the little baby melons did not make it but the ones that made it to tennisball size are all doing great, perfectly spaced in size too so they don't get ripe all at once. From the total of 14 there are now 7 big ones left and a few tiny ones that probably won't make it. The leaves are looking very sad, all yellow and dying, hope the melons keep going. I give them water and manure tea, fingers crossed.
Modify: Just found out that cantaloupe IS a type of muskmelon hahaha.