Allotments 4 All

I'm really excited as today I picked ( well touched really & it just fell off the plant!!) a melon - Blenheim orange
I thought it looke das if the skin had changed colour, although I did wonder if it was just wishful thinking   ::). But it felt ripe  ::) so I thought well why not and cut it ...  lovely juicy orange flesh,
Delicious - I'm afraid we ate half of it before I thought to take a pic  ;D ::)
Will try to ppost a pic of the other half ! It's not very big - about4" across I suppose, but I am so pleased as last year I had no success with them, and used my last 2 seeds this year , got 2 plants though and another fruit coming along.
Also got a Prescott Fond Blanc with one fruit on it - about 2" across currently so have hopes there too.
Will try to get the pic on later.
Terri

At last  :D Been trying since last night, had forgotten how to . Sorry it's a bit big but I'll try to change it.

Photobucket does'nt like the look of your melons -  ;D

Mine have gone on strike since the hot wheather went - hopefully they will be ripe soon...

Had first Ogen on Saturday...... didn't last long at all. 
3 more losing their green-ness and will be eaten by next Saturday I expect! :-*

I'd like to grow some melons next year, but have no knowledge of them at all.  I could grow them in a greenhouse or have some space outside (but I'm in South Yorkshire) - could anyone make some recommendations - I quite like eating honeydew and gala melons, but not sure if they're suitable for our climate.

They do take up a lot of space, so growing them in a greenhouse is'nt ideal. A cold frame is better - but mine are just outside in the open. I let them ramble, and put a tile or brick under each developing fruit to keep it off the soil. Try Sweetheart Canteloupe melons.

I'm in North Yorkshire and have grown various types in a small plastic greenhouse this year for the first time.  I had no previous knowledge either but thought it fun to have a go.  I think all the varieties I've been growing are suited to growing in our climate so would probably be ok outside too.  I'm planning on giving them a go outside next year as they have taken over the greenhouse somewhat!

Mc55 - If you pm me your address I'll try and remember to send you some seed if I get a good quantity from them.  I have 5 fruit altogether, 1 'Black mountain' watermelon, 3 'Petit Gris de Rennes, and 1 'Minnesota midget'.  Can't tell you what type of melon the last 2 are I'm afraid.

Hi, I now have lots of seeds of the Blenheim orange variety & will send some to anyone who pm's me.
I got them from the organic co so growing details can be found there.
Also have some prescott fond blanc (from Real seed co) & will be happy to swap some of those too.
Would'nt mind some 'minnesota midget' & 'Petit Gris de Rennes' though, sweetpea ;D

Ta
Terri

mc55 and sweet-pea

We're in South Yorkshire and tried 3 watermelon plants in the greenhouse for the first time. We've got 4 decent sized melons (aroung 12" circumference) and will probably pick the biggest one this weekend.

We're definitely going to give a go at growing more varieties outside next year.

Thanks everyone - I will definitely be giving them a go next year
mc

Managed to get two fruits to edible size so far - well one is 4/5" dia and the other half as big again and there are another couple swelling.  To me that's miraculous and I am afraid to harvest them too soon and shattering my dreams!  Sweetheart cantaloupe is what they are and they are in an outdoor coldframe.......

I took the plunge and picked my watermelon last night.  I think I might have been ever so slightly premature, although maybe not as I'm only comparing the taste to the ones you get in the shops.  It was fantastic, not nearly as sweet as the shop bought ones, more refreshing, and the flesh wasn't as red either.  Next year I shall leave them on a bit longer I think to see if it makes a difference to taste.

Hope everyone else enjoys theirs too, I'm now looking forward to harvesting the rest :-)  It's so exciting!

SP
by coincidence picked one of our WM's last night as it hadnt grown in a week.

Ours were a yellow variety. The inside wasnt as bright as on the the packet.
Taste was very good - after chilling the uneaten half the taste was excellent.

Forgot to save the seeds but will do from the others for next year

Hello All

I am new to this site and need some advice.
I have four melon plants left now and some fruits are 5 or 6 inches but no net yet.
Others are still a couple of inches.
How long does it take to get ripe?
It has started getting cooler and I am wondering if there is enough time left for them to get ripe.
They are in a potting shed (I know I shouldn't have grown them in it).
I will try in the greenhouse next year.
Which month should I sow the seeds?
I did early April and late May this year and had to throw the latter ones as it didn't seem to be enough time left for them to grow.

Hi Nippon-Niko

I'm afraid I'm a bit of a novice with melons as it's been my first year growing them.  I think my success has been down to luck!  I did however find this while looking for info on how to tell when they're ripe, it might be of help for next year.  http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Melon.htm
In terms of ripeness, do you know what size they should get to?  I'm planning on looking out for a strong melony smell and pressing the flower end of the fruit to test for any give.
I thought I'd found some other info on how to tell when they're ripe but I can't seem to find it at the mo', although I think I might have posted it as a link in a previous melon post.

Hope this helps

SP

Hello Sweet Pea

Thank you very much for your advice.
I am growing melons for the first time this year.
I like reading gardening books and sites, and studied about the cultivation of melons.
But I am afraid that I am not an expert of the weather and have no idea with the current temperature they can still grow and get ripe.
I limited one to two melons per plant as by doing that it is supposed to give me bigger and sweeter melons.
My melons are Edonis F1 from T&M and supposed to be able to harvest from mid of July.
Since they are in the potting shed, they get sun only one-side, which may be a problem.
My friend said to me the other day, nowadays summer is in June and July and autumn starts in August.
I am a Japanese and have lived here for nearly 7 years so I don't know what the weather used to be like here.
But this year I think that I could have sown some vegetables earlier than their seed packages say.
I sowed a Japanese miniture pumpkin a little bit late but they are growing well.
Hmmmmm.....