[peedee555]

one of my daughters has plated some melon seeds and they have come up she wants me to plant them on my plot never attempted melons has anyone had any luck

[vanessa.xx]

Sorry not much help but I'm growing them in my greenhouse on my plot and last year someone grew them in the communal poly tunnel but I'm not sure about outside

[peedee555]

ok ta will put them in and see what happens they come up looking strong

[3759allen]

i'm trying them this year, mine are in a hot poly tunnel though.

i know they're late like everything else this year, but they seem very slow growing. mine have been planted out at least 4 weeks, prob 8 weeks from sowing. i'm still yet to see any fruit, they have got the first flowers though.

if you can afford the space then give them ago but everyone says you struggle getting a long enough season for them at the best of times. maybe use this year to see if it's worth bothing with next year and sow earlier and hope for summer to start at a sensible time.

[AnnieB]

Just planted 2 outside into 2 pots. Each pot was I think 15 inch and I used a mix of 2 parts compost to 1 part manure. Watered the pot then plt the melon in. Neither seemed to suffer and are climbing the netting happily 3 days afterwards.

[peedee555]

oh are they climbing plants then dosent the weight of the melon ( if they grow ) pullthemdown

[Sparkyrog]

Most melons climb ,but can be grown on the ground

[peedee555]

oh ok thanks will replan were to put them

[3759allen]

i'm just letting mine crawl rather than climb, i've heard people say you may have to support the melons when / if they get large enough.

i've laid old carpet down the on the ground to double up as a weed suppressant  and stop the melons touching the soil.

[tosca100]

It would probably depend on the rest of the summer. Over here the melon season is in full flow, never seen such huge galias. But the chap next door has water melons and they grow rampant over the ground. They don't put anything under the fruit, but it is usually a lot drier here. I hope you get some, and if you already have the plants you might as well put them in and try. Home grown melons are amazing.

Good luck.

[JayG]

In 2011 I grew Sweetheart melons successfully in the greenhouse despite it being a below par summer; last year's summer was even worse and they expired, so as far as growing outside is concerned I agree with Tosca, although of course a good summer here would probably be a bad one in Bulgaria!

In such borderline cases it's always a good idea to hedge your bets if you can (one inside and one outside?)

[vanessa.xx]

In 2011 I grew Sweetheart melons successfully in the greenhouse despite it being a below par summer; last year's summer was even worse and they expired, so as far as growing outside is concerned I agree with Tosca, although of course a good summer here would probably be a bad one in Bulgaria!

In such borderline cases it's always a good idea to hedge your bets if you can (one inside and one outside?)

Hi did you have to hand pollinate them in the greenhouse? I have lots and lots of male flowers but can only see one female although she is taking her time to open, also may I ask how many plants did you have and how many melons did you get? I will be very happy if I manage to get one 

[JayG]

The entire "drama" unfolded in this thread Vanessa (and yes, I did hand pollinate them): 

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=80569.msg902384#msg902384

[vanessa.xx]

The entire "drama" unfolded in this thread Vanessa (and yes, I did hand pollinate them): 

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=80569.msg902384#msg902384

Thank you I will have a read now 

[tosca100]

I know it's not relevent to the UK, but as we are talking melons, this came over the fence from lovely neighbour today, weighing over 2kg.