Melons may seem exotic to some but they have been grown by many gardeners for decades. They are actually not all that difficult to grow with a little know how.

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to taste a home grown Melon then why not give it a go and grow them from seed.

How to grow

There is much debate on growing melons but one thing is for certain, melons need heat. This is much easier than you may think. In buying these plug plants you have eliminated the need to germinate seed and now all you have left to do is prepare a site and plant your plugs.

Position

Plant your Melons under glass for best results, although you can grow melons in the garden under cover.  A cold frame, greenhouse, poly-tunnel or cloche will suffice.  As long as the plant is positioned in sun, to add that extra warmth, it will be happy and produce a decent crop of mouth watering fruit.

Soil

Your melon plants should be planted in multi-purpose compost and for best results you should add extra organic matter, such as well rotted manure.  Hungry feeders, these fast growing plants require additional fertiliser and this is best provided in the form of high potassium Tomato feed when fruits are beginning to form.  

Care

Watering is key to producing a good crop.  Melons require lots of water but they are susceptible to rot.  Watering with an irrigation system or drip feeder is advisable as this reduces water resting on the plant and fruits.
Pollinate flowers by hand.  Use a small brush and transfer pollen around each of your flowers.  Remove male flowers following this process.  You can identify female flowers as they will have a small melon like structure behind the flower itself.

Harvesting

Allow fruits to ripen on the vine.  You will know that the time is right to remove your melon from the vine when small cracks appear on the stalk near to the fruit, this is when your melon is at its best.  It is at this point that you should remove the melon or you could be daring and allow the melon to drop the fruit itself.

Top Tip

Place a tile underneath the fruit or use a net or stocking to support a melon hanging from the vine.  This will ensure fruit does not rot from contact with wet ground and stems do not snap from the sheer weight of the ripening fruit.