How to Grow Melons

Rockmelons have a lovely fragrance when fully ripe. They are sometimes called netted melons because of the raised net pattern on the skin, or musk, or sweet, melons. Cantaloupes (a name often wrongly used for rockmelons) have a hard rind that is never netted. Winter melons ripen late and can be stored for longer than the other melon groups. They include casaba melons, with their lengthwise ribbed wrinkles and hard rind; the smooth skinned, green-fleshed honeydew melons; and an assorted group of Crenshaw, Canary and other types, which keep exceptionally well.

Planning the crop
Melons need a sunny, open position and well-drained soil, preferably neutral to very slightly acidic. Acid soils should be adjusted with lime or dolomite. Dig in moderate amounts of compost and also a little bonemeal before planting. Some varieties have been developed with very short runners, just 1 m long. These are ideal for small gardens or for large pots on a sunny balcony or deck.

How many to grow- Each plant averages four to five fruits. Grow several varieties so they don’t all ripen at the same time.

Varieties
Rockmelons
Jenny Lind- American heirloom melon; aromatic, sweet, green-fleshed, small fruits to 1kg, with prominent ribs.

Blenheim Orange- Cold-climate melon; exceptionally aromatic, sweet fruits; good for greenhouse cultivation.

Green Nutmeg- Ideal for cool climates; grows and ripens in about two months; smallish, heavily netted fruits with pale green, aromatic, sweet flesh.

Minnesota Midget- Short 1m vines ideal for small gardens; small, sweet, golden-fleshed fruits.

Hales Best- Popular commercial melon; thick, aromatic, sweet orange flesh.

Cantaloupe melons
Charantais- Legendary melon from Provence; small cavity; thick, juicy, deep orange, fragrant flesh with rich flavour.

Ogen- Considered one of the finest melons; smallish, rounded fruits with tender, sweet, greenish white flesh.

Casaba melons
Piel de Sapo- Delicious Spanish melon; long, oval-shaped, with creamy flesh.

Sungold- Plump melon with juicy, sugary, greenish white flesh, borne on short 1m vines.

Other winter melons
Yellow Canary- A good keeper; hard, golden rind; aromatic, sweet green flesh.

Honeydew- Long growing season of 95–105 days; hard ivory rind; up to 3 kg; juicy, aromatic, thick green flesh.

Early Honeydew- Needs less time and space to grow than Honeydew.

Growing tips
To ensure good drainage, mound the soil into individual ‘hills’ 1m apart and plant two to three seeds, about 2 cm deep, in each hill. Or sow in raised beds. Melons need temperatures of 18°C to germinate and 21°C to grow well. In short-summer areas select varieties that will fruit and ripen quickly. Or raise seedlings in jiffy pots under protection from early spring. Plant them out in their final beds once the weather warms up. The pots decompose in the soil and the plants receive no setback. Fruiting takes place on sideshoots. Pinch out each plant’s growing tip two or three times during the season to encourage the maximum number of sideshoots and therefore fruits. The first flowers are male and these will abort.