Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: soaplady on April 17, 2008, 10:50

Title: watermelon help required
Post by: soaplady on April 17, 2008, 10:50

Hi All,

I have managed to raise my seeds to seedlings now, and they are sitting on my conservatory window. They have three leaves apiece, (apart from the two that my son pulled out which have two, the little tinker). My question is, do I grow them on in the greenhouse, or can I now plant them outside? The type is Blacktail Mountain, and I believe they grow huge vines. My greenhouse is only about 10ft by 8ft, and I am already growing three different types of toms in there, plus basil, chillies, and peppers.

I have some a pre dug garden, and also three raised beds, I tried looking for advice on the web, but can only find US info, which as I am in the south of england, don't think will apply. Hopefully one of the forum users has grown this melon, and will be able to help me out .

Thanks

Soaplady

Title: watermelon help required
Post by: CZ Silhouette on April 17, 2008, 11:53

Never grown them but plan to try one next year(Blenheim Orange).
From what I gather you need to grow in them in the greenhouse as warmth seems to be a big factor.

Heres a couple of links with a bit of info.
How to grow melons in a greenhouse (http://www.gardenadvice.co.uk/howto/greenhouse/melon/index.html)
Bobs how to grow (http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/features/issue116/melons.php)

Title: watermelon help required
Post by: gobs on April 17, 2008, 13:09

They need protection of some sort to have any hope for them. Size of vine does not matter for 2 reasons: they can just go around themselves, but most importantly, you gotta prune back to 2-4 fruit a plant to have some ripened on our summers.