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Melon

Cucumis melo

INTRODUCTION

Melon, although technically a fruit, is part of the Cucurbit family and is a popular greenhouse subject for the home gardener, so we are including it in the vegetable listings.

The two most popular types are the 'Cantaloupes' which are the sweetest, and the 'Honeydews' which have better keeping qualities.

Not a lover of cool climates, it is better to grow it in a greenhouse, polytunnel or cold frame. However, one or two varieties will perform outdoors if favourable conditions can be provided.

Soil Preparation

Melons should really be considered a greenhouse or polytunnel crop only, in the UK, unless you have very warm and favourable growing conditions.

They can be grown in pots, straw bales, grow bags or border soil.

If using pots, use a pot size of at least 10 litres filled with multi-purpose compost.

If growing in border soil, it should be deeply cultivated, very rich, fertile and moisture retentive.

Sowing & Planting

Raise plants by sowing seed into 9cm pots or modules filled with multi-purpose compost.

Sow seed on its edge, this aids germination.

Sowings can be made from April onwards. Melons require warmth for speedy germination, use a propagator if possible.

Plant out into chosen growing area making sure plants are not too deep as this can cause them to rot.

Aim for spacings of at least 60cm (24 inches) between plants or containers.

Growing & General Cultivation

Most varieties of Melons will require some form of plant support. Use canes or strings.

Keep plants well-watered, especially during hot weather and feed every other week.

As fruits start to grow and mature, they will also need some form of netting support, to stop plants from being damaged under their weight. Some of the smaller fruiting varieties may be able to support themselves.

Limit each plant to no more than 4 fruits to ensure that each one gains its full weight. Any more and you may end up with a lot of small fruits.

As fruits develop, remove the plants growing tips to aid maturity.

Pests & Diseases

Melons tend to share the same common pest and diseases as with other Cucurbits :

Slugs and Snails can be a problem for young plants - for remedies - see product directory.

Powdery Mildew is a white powdery deposit that can cover stems and foliage. It is usually associated with dry weather and to prevent, avoid plants from drying out. Remove affected foliage as needed or in severe outbreaks, use a suitable fungicide - see product directory.

Cucumber Mosaic Virus shows as yellow speckling on foliage resulting in leaves turning brown. Plants become stunted with reduced harvests. The virus is spread by Aphids, so take necessary precautions. In extreme cases, remove entire plants to reduce the risk of spread.

Red Spider Mite shows up as yellow mottling on the foliage. On the underside of leaves, webbing will become obvious in severe cases, with mites clearly visible. The pest is normally more of an issue on indoor crops, particularly during hot, dry weather. Biological control is available. See Product Directory for details.

Greenhouse White Fly can affect greenhouse crops. If a problem occurs, consider Biological control. See Product Directory for details.