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Growing melons in a raised bed
SparklesJD
Posts: 344
in Fruit & veg
I am planning a new raised bed, which will be 6' by 3' (approx 2m x 1m) 14 inches high and I'd like to have a go at growing melons with my little girl.
I've got some musk melon - Malaga F1, which apparently I can grow here (London), but have ordered a 'growhouse' thing that fits over the raised bed just in case.
I'm laying out my bed square foot style, how many can I realistically grow in the space?
Can I grow anything else in the raised bed, e.g. calendula or would it be better to concentrate on the melons?
Has anyone had any success at growing melon outdoors?!
0
Posts
The 'growhouse' covering will definitely help - I've grown melons in a polytunnel and an unheated greenhouse with reasonable success. They do take up a lot of space though and I wouldn't try more than 3 in a bed that size and ideally only 2. If you can provide some support they can be tied-in to it and be grown vertically, but you will then have to support the fruit too (old tights or netting works.) Follow the growing advice carefully about nipping out the shoots etc. or you'll end up with a sprawling mass of vine and leaves with little or no fruit. RHS growing and pruning advice here:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/fruit/melons
One tip I can give is about when to harvest - use you nose! They smell really sweet when ready.
Good luck if you give them a go.
Thanks Bob!
Great tips, I will take pictures as I go