Melon plants' season of growth is short, but we can prolong it by early sowing under cover. Growth in summer is rapid, and I show you different varieties, plus a watermelon plant. At the end is a tasting!
Don't underestimate the need for warmth, otherwise you may spend a lot of time and effort for little result. At Homeacres I grow them mostly under cover for decent harvests. I rarely enjoy success with outdoor melons.
My sowing dates here in 2022, were 31st March and 4th April.
Emir F1, Minnesota Midget, Petit Gris de Rennes, Ogen - all Charentais type.
See my online lesson about growing melons, which includes a seed to harvest video:
https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/product/pln_sweetcorn-melon-and-capsicums-growing-guide-a1g40qon
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00:00 Introduction - melons on the hotbed
01:24 Potting on mid to late April
02:31 In the greenhouse 17th May, planting Early Moonbeam watermelon
04:12 Watering new planting
04:37 Planting with string in the hole, same method as for cucumber and tomato
08:05 More on watering after planting
08:55 Middle of June - a look at the melon plants
09:24 Twisting the top of the plant around the string, and what to do if the stem snaps
10:33 Comparing the two types of melon - Emir F1and a smaller-fruited Minnesota Midget
10:57 5 weeks later, mid-July - pinching out new growth, and regular watering
13:08 How to know when melons are ripe
13:32 The option of growing melons on the ground
13:50 Middle of August, three months since transplanting - a look at ripeness
16:00 Mildew on the leaves, why and does it matter?
17:12 Harvesting, and more on ripeness
19:25 Melons growing on the ground
21:13 Growth of plants outside - runner/pole beans, and French beans
21:51 A look at the watermelon in the greenhouse, transplanted in May, and how to tell if it’s ripe
24:22 Melon tasting. Different varieties
Check out this video short from 2022 on growing and harvesting melons:
https://youtube.com/shorts/52maItS1lvA
And this one from 2020: https://youtu.be/7eHf_SCBKRw
Filmed through 2022 by Alessandro Vitale @SpicyMoustache and edited by him, with a Little help from Edward Dowding.
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