Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Debz on January 28, 2019, 11:38

Title: Growing Melons in the UK
Post by: Debz on January 28, 2019, 11:38
Has anyone tried it?  I was thinking that if we get another summer like last year, it might be worth a punt but I was wondering if anyone had tried it and could recommend varieties, conditions etc.
Title: Re: Growing Melons in the UK
Post by: sunshineband on January 28, 2019, 12:58
Has anyone tried it?  I was thinking that if we get another summer like last year, it might be worth a punt but I was wondering if anyone had tried it and could recommend varieties, conditions etc.

I grew Outdoor Wonder, which is a Galia type, under a cloche very successfully, and Emir in the polytunnel, a cantaloupe,. The second one was much more fragrant and I shall be growing them again this year. I ma sure they would do well outside in a warm sunny spot
Title: Re: Growing Melons in the UK
Post by: Plot 1 Problems on January 28, 2019, 13:08
I've also grown Emir successfully in the polytunnel for the last two years. Not the biggest of fruit but certainly very tasty! One of my plot neighbours has also grown a watermelon type in his greenhouse, though I can't tell you the variety of the top of my head!
Title: Re: Growing Melons in the UK
Post by: Mr Dog on January 28, 2019, 14:46
I've grown Emir and Minnesota Midget. I got wonderfully tasting fruit from both, but they were (very) small - biggest about 2" diameter.
Title: Re: Growing Melons in the UK
Post by: sunshineband on January 28, 2019, 17:59
I've grown Emir and Minnesota Midget. I got wonderfully tasting fruit from both, but they were (very) small - biggest about 2" diameter.

Our Emir were around 6ins long
Title: Re: Growing Melons in the UK
Post by: Plot 1 Problems on January 28, 2019, 18:51
I've grown Emir and Minnesota Midget. I got wonderfully tasting fruit from both, but they were (very) small - biggest about 2" diameter.

Our Emir were around 6ins long

Mine were about the same.
Title: Re: Growing Melons in the UK
Post by: Mr Dog on January 28, 2019, 19:49
Oh for a longer growing season. You southerners are spoilt compared to us poor gardeners 'up north' ;)
Title: Re: Growing Melons in the UK
Post by: Plot 1 Problems on January 28, 2019, 22:01
In fairness Mr Dog, my plot is semi-shaded, so you should have a chance of being able to grow melons under cover.
Title: Re: Growing Melons in the UK
Post by: DHM on January 29, 2019, 06:21
Oh for a longer growing season. You southerners are spoilt compared to us poor gardeners 'up north' ;)

My dad has an allotment in Yorkshire and was suprised when visiting my South Coast plot when one of my neighbours came over with some peaches from his polytunnel, and the fact we're still harvesting rainbow chard, though from what I've seen, up North the potatoes grow a lot bigger and the cabbages are to die for! 8)
Title: Re: Growing Melons in the UK
Post by: Debz on January 29, 2019, 14:41
Thank you all for your advice.  Think I'll be getting some seed and having a go.  The kids will be very interested as they both love melons.
Title: Re: Growing Melons in the UK
Post by: AnneB on January 30, 2019, 17:54
I grew 2 Petit Gris de Rennes last year.  1 in the polytunnel and 1 in the greenhouse - 1 per plant only.   A friend of mine managed to grow several good sized watermelons on his allotment last year, outside and in Yorkshire.
Title: Re: Growing Melons in the UK
Post by: al78 on January 31, 2019, 14:29
No harm in trying, but the chance of getting another summer like 2018 is very low, that was at least a 1 in 50 year event, so I would recommend growing them as greenhouse crops.