There are three groups of sweet melons. Canteloupe melons, with their orange flesh are the best ones for us to grow in the UK. You can also grow honeydew types, which have firm yellow flesh, and musk melons, which must be grown in a greenhouse.
Are honeydew melons hard to grow?
Honeydew melon plants aren’t fussy or difficult to grow.
How long does it take for a honeydew melon to grow?
Honeydew melons mature in 65 to 100 days, depending on the cultivar.
How do you grow honeydew from seed UK?
- Sow two seeds per pot of seed compost in a 9cm pot.
- After germination, remove the weaker of the two seedlings and keep the compost moist but not too wet.
- Plant out in late spring to early summer.
- As the plants establish, keep tying the long main stem to a plant support.
- Melons produce both male and female flowers.
Can you grow honeydew melons from their seeds?
Direct sowing is recommended, but to get a head start you can start honeydew indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost in individual biodegradable pots indoors. Sow 2-3 seeds per pot. Sow seeds ½ inches deep in seed-starting formula. Keep the soil moist at 70 degrees F.
Do honeydew melons need a trellis?
Melons need plenty of space. Most melons will grow 6-8′ long. To save space, grow up instead of out by growing them on a trellis. Plant them 24 inches apart.
Can you grow honeydew melons on a trellis?
Melons grow on very sprawling vines that can take up most of a garden bed though. The perfect solution is growing melons vertically. While these fruits are heavy, you can grow melons on a trellis as long as you create a strong support system for the vine and each fruit.
When should I plant honeydew melon?
Cantaloupe and honeydew are warm-season crops that grow best at average air temperatures between 65 and 75 °F. It is best to plant when the soil temperature is at least 60 to 65 °F. These melons are very tender and should be planted after the last chance of frost.
How much space does a honeydew need?
Space plants 36 to 42 inches apart. Or, to save space, plant melons 12 inches apart at the base of a trellis.
Can I grow melons outside in UK?
Melons are tender plants, so need a warm, sunny spot with high humidity. In the UK it is best to grow in a glasshouse, polytunnel or under a cloche or in a coldframe. Melons need a fertile, moisture-retentive and well-drained soil.
Can melons be grown in pots?
While you can grow full-size melons in containers, you’ll get the best results with dwarf cultivars that produce smaller fruits and shorter vines.
How do you prepare honeydew melon seeds for planting?
To start saving melon seeds, cut open the fruit lengthwise and scoop out the seed masses into a jar. Add a little warm water and allow the mixture to sit for two to four days, stirring daily. As the melon seeds sit in water, they ferment.
Can you grow honeydew melon indoors?
Like most seeds, honeydew seeds need soil, water, and eventually light to grow. You can plant honeydew indoors, direct sow this green melon outdoors after frost is done, or try winter sowing.
Can I grow watermelon in UK?
Yes, they do need warm and sunny conditions in order to grow well. But that doesn’t make them impossible to grow in the UK, and once they get started, they are in fact relatively maintenance-free.
Should you soak melon seeds before planting?
Many types of plant seeds benefit from pre-planting soaking to the outer seed coating and hasten germination. Though, Watermelons are an exception to the rule. Soaking the Watermelon seeds before planting increases the risks of various fungal diseases, such as anthracnose caused by the Colletotrichum lagenarium fungus.
Can you grow honeydew in pots?
To grow honeydew melons, fill a 5-gallon container with a high-quality potting mix. Plant 1 seed per 5-gallon container for best growth. In hot climates, sow melon seeds after the last frost. In cold climates, start indoors 3 weeks before the last frost and transplant after the danger of frost has passed.
What can you not plant with melons?
Plants that don’t do well with melons include other cucurbits such as pumpkins, squash, summer and winter, and cucumbers. Also, avoid planting potatoes with your melons. Tomatoes and peppers don’t thrive with melons because melons take up so much space they crowd them out.
How do you prune a honeydew melon?
Pruning honeydew melon vines
As a rule of thumb it’s best to leave the main vine untouched, and to cut away secondary or lateral vines up until the eighth leaf node. After that, top the lateral vines after the third or fourth leaf node. Male flowers form on the main vine, while female flowers grow on the lateral vines.
Can I grow melons in a greenhouse?
Melons are a staple for fruit salads and are perfect for growing in greenhouses. They may require slightly more effort than your standard tomato but they are well worth the input.
What can you do with honeydew seeds?
Cantaloupe and honeydew melon seeds have a similar nutritional profile.
Don’t Throw Those Melon Seeds Away!
- Cut your melon in half.
- Scoop out the seeds and flesh and place this in your blender.
- Add water (4 cups with the seeds of two medium-sized melons works well).
- Blend on high until the seeds are well ground.
How do you grow melons in a small space?
How to Grow Melons in Small Spaces
- Place a large container, such as a halved whiskey barrel, on a patio, balcony or area of your garden that receives the most sunlight.
- Plant up to five dwarf melon seeds 2 inches apart and 1 inch deep in the center of your container one to two weeks after the average last frost date.