Text only | Text with Images

Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: cleo on August 02, 2008, 17:33:05

Title: Melons
Post by: cleo on August 02, 2008, 17:33:05
Is it just me? but I just cannot find males and females ready to mate.

I suppose it`s my fault as I`m trying a freebie just called `mixed`-the sods have the benefit of a greenhouse built over a west facing wall so they get some warmth-but will they show willing???
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: Jeannine on August 02, 2008, 21:02:08
Stop watching them, maybe they are shy..
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: Barnowl on August 04, 2008, 11:07:40
Same problem with a charente but have just this week finally had simultaneous male and female flowering.

Can one use pollen from one variety to fertilise another?
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: manicscousers on August 04, 2008, 19:26:48
hope so, I have  ;D
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: calendula on August 04, 2008, 19:47:46
yes you can - I've grown melon 'no name' this year - living up to its name, no name, no melon  ;D

one of these years  :(
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: Barnowl on August 05, 2008, 10:10:11
Quote from: manicscousers on August 04, 2008, 19:26:48
hope so, I have  ;D

Then I suspect the one charente that appears to be growing (so far) was pollinated by a midget (to coin a phrase)  :)
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: KathrynH on August 05, 2008, 20:57:29
I've got a few tiny flowers on my plants but no sign of any fruit yet. At least it's better than last year when I got nothing at all! Any tips?
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: susan1 on August 05, 2008, 21:11:21
i've got about 9 watermelons on 5 plants thought i had 6 plants but seem to have lost one they vary in size from golf balls to cricket size balls
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: KathrynH on August 05, 2008, 21:41:22
So what's your secret???????
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: susan1 on August 05, 2008, 21:51:01
dunno its the 1st time i have grown them got some authentic italian seed and just planted them ;)
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: antipodes on August 06, 2008, 10:06:38
I am growing Gallias and Charentais melons and they have been quite slow, but last night I noticed there are a few tennis ball sized melons starting so I hope that when I come back from my hols in 2 weeks time, they will be ready!!! It's my first success at growing melons, I just let them do their own thing. They are outside.
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: gordonsveg on August 07, 2008, 12:10:57
 ??? ??? How do you all do it? 3 plants that have just decided to grow and one flower on the 3. ???
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: Barnowl on August 07, 2008, 12:36:44
(Also a first time grower) I've been using a watercolour brush trimmed down so the bristles fit inside the flowers. I check at least once a day and pollinate whenever possible. Usually there have been more males than females so I brush a male then the female then another male then the same female and so on. I'm sure I got the advice from A4A.
Title: Re: Melons
Post by: mark45 on August 07, 2008, 18:03:58
 what you have to have female amd male melons to grow them.god all about sex int it lol
Text only | Text with Images