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Talkback: Growing melons

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
Hi,I am growing melons too, I have made sure that i water at least twice a day, this does include damping down. but do not do this if you have just polulated them.So far i have at 10 Melons, some are the size of a small football.
good luck.
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We have never tried growing Melons, can you grow them in a small greenhouse or is it better outside with protection? any comments welcome.We have been trying to grow Butternut Squash,last year we started too late but this year the plants have done well and starting to produce fruit.(small) They are growing flat on the ground and there are lots of large leaves. We are watering and all this extra rain is helping too!Has anyone some advise as to how to grow bigger squash? Should we stop the plants producing too many flowers or does this not make any difference? I can find lots of recipes but not advise.They are fed miracle grow once a week and watered regulary.This is our first experiment with Squash, can anyone recommend any varieties we should try for next year? thanks.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have had the same problem with mildew recently. Eventually the melon plants died, and I was distraught! But I found some info in an organic kitchen garden mag, and it told me to do this:
    Find a spray can, Fill it with 9 parts water 1 part milk Spary the leaves of the affected plant!
    I tried this method with some cucumber plants and a grape plant, and I do believe that cucumbers have a very similar structure of the leaves as melons, so it should work. I did find that the method worked.I hope this comes in handy!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I've got plants that look like day of the triffids and have had male and female flowers galore. I've watered the, cross pollinated them carefully with paint brushed and by putting the flowers together, I've tried stressing one by removing a third of the leaves to promote fruiting. All to no avail. I'm afraid with space being at a premium in my greenhouse they are off the menu for next year!!!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I tried melons for the first time this year and after a disappointing start (only two plants from a whole pack of seeds!!) They are now doing well in the greenhouse. I pollinated them with a feather. Have quite a few fruits now, one slightly smaller than a football. The only dilemma I have is knowing when to harvest! Anyone got any tips?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    i have been successfully growing long melons in my back yard . the seeding requires the more than 20 degree and the plant has life cycle from sep to april... often watering is not like by the palnt. when flower developes u have to hand polinate the plant good luck...
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I am growing melons in a growbag in my greenhouse in my dads allotment. i have 3 plants doing very well. I have no signs of mildew so far.there are signs of melons on each plant. i am feeding these about once a week with liquid feed. The melons seeds i used are johnsons emir. tolerant to cool conditions.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2009/06/03/melonman_feature.shtml
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    i am growing melons in my greenhouse for the first time i also have tomatoes,peppers,beans,and chillies is it ok to cross polinate all these plants
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Reply to MELON MASTER- you don't need to cross pollinate any of these plants. They should pollinate themselves on their own.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    this my third year of growing melons in my greenhouse in 5x 12 inch plastic pots. 1st year was Cantaloupe i had none. 2nd year i tried Galian and i got 2. This year i am growing Ogen and i have 15 formed and swelling nicely. I sowed seed in heated propogator in March. During the day the house now reaches 80-100f and i water 3 times a day both plants and the concrete floor. I dont spray the plants. Masses of male and female flowers i pollinate with a very small paint brush. i have had no leaf problems i remove 25% gradually. i feed once a week with tomato feritliser. interesting and satisfying to grow, time and patience needed.
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