Garden Vegetable - Melons

Botanical Information

Starting

Notes:

Requires a rich, well-drained moisture retentive soil and a warm, very sunny location. A frost-tender annual plant, the melon is widely cultivated in gardens and commercially, especially in warmer climates, for its edible fruit. Some varieties may succeed outdoors in northern climates in hot summers but in general it is best to grow melons under protection in these conditions. This is a very variable species that has long been cultivated for its edible fruit. As a result, a number of distinct forms have arisen and there are many named varieties within each of these forms. Grows well with corn and sunflowers but dislikes potatoes. The weeds fat hen and sow thistle improve the growth and cropping of melons.

Propagation: Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse in a rich soil. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Sow 2 or 3 seeds per pot and thin out to the best plant. Plant out well after the last expected frosts, giving them cloche or frame protection for at least their first few weeks.