The melon is a fruit vegetable par excellence, which often comes in the ground only in the southern regions or on the banks of the Loire. In the other regions, except exceptional exposure, real production is only possible under shelter.
The melon appreciates the free and light soils, which are easily heated. He needs water, but he fears the stagnant.
Characteristics
Vernacular name : melon
Latin name : Cucumis melo
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Vegetative cycle : annual plant
Multiplication mode : S seedlingemence : 10 to 15 g in pockets / 1 are of culture
Lift speed : • Full ground: 1 to 2 weeks • Under cover: 1 week
Harvest : 2 to 4 kg / ml
Fertilizer : manure, phosphopotassic fertilizer
Pests, diseases and treatments : • Aphids, thrips: specialized insecticides • White or mildew, nuile (disease of certain cucurbits): Bordeaux mixture • Virose (mosaic): destruction of the feet
Culture steps
seedling
Even more than for cucumbers and gherkins, heat is needed for seed emergence and plant starting. Sowing in pots is ideal for melons.
Three or four seeds will be sown in peat pots placed in a greenhouse or frame in January-February.
the buckets are placed in a plastic terrine which avoids moving them one by one. It is also useful to cover them with a glass plate to limit evaporation.
Seeding on warm frame layers is also possible in April.
Sowing in open ground
It is made directly in place from May 15, in pockets spaced about 80 cm. Any lines will be 1.50 m apart.
Culture
Forced cultivation involves transplanting under frames from April. In case of sowing on layers, it is done in the ground (sheltered or not) from May 15, when the frosts are no longer to be feared; the plants are spaced 80 cm apart and, if possible, fresh manure will be added to the foot of the plant to ensure warming.
Just like for cucumbers, the plant must be transplanted with its root ball. Use for this purpose a bulb plant.
Pinching (called size for melon)
It is similar to cucumbers and gherkins. Practiced first above the first two leaves, however, the size is generally longer, the second size at the level of the fourth leaf of each of the two branches born from the first two leaves giving rise to long stems on which will appear the fruits. An ultimate pinch over the fruit comes after its appearance.
In addition to frequent burrowing, mulching and watering, the melon needs to be protected from the cold, including the freshness of summer nights.
It is for these reasons that the management of melon greenhouse cultivation is very profitable provided that it is well watered and aerated. Here we see the plants trellised on nets.
Harvest
In forced cultivation, harvested in May-June, while in rush crops, harvested only during August. For the cultivation exclusively of open ground, one harvests of September until the frosts. A melon is good to pick when it begins to crack around the peduncle, and the leaves wither.
On the other hand, the hairs are then totally fallen. A few days in the cellar will bring the melon to its full maturity.
Split melons
The cracks that often appear on melons are not a sign of ripening, but result from jolts of vegetation due to irregular watering during the summer.
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FAQ - 💬
❓ Can I grow melons from their seeds?
👉 You can start to sow your melon seeds from mid-April until the end of May. To start with, soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours to encourage germination and to penetrate the seed.
❓ How long do melons take to grow from seed?
👉 It is a better idea to water at the soil level. Depending on the melon, it can take anywhere from 60-130+ days for the melon plants to produce a ripe melon. In that time, be sure to keep an eye on the developing melons.
❓ When can I sow melons?
👉 Plant melon seeds 1 week to 10 days before the average last spring frost date, it is important to wait until the soil is warm enough. Use a thermometer to take the temperature of the top two inches of soil. Melon seed germination is best between 70°F and 90°F.
❓ How do you sow melon seeds?
👉
- 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.
❓ Should you start melon seeds indoors?
👉 It is essential to start seeds indoors or in a greenhouse 4-6 weeks after the last frost date. Transplant when the plants are 5 weeks old. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 20-25°C (68-77°F). Seeds should sprout in 5-10 days.
❓ Should you soak melon seeds before planting?
👉 Avoid Soaking the Seeds Soaking the seeds before planting increases the risks of various fungal diseases, such as anthracnose caused by the Colletotrichum lagenarium fungus.
❓ Are melons easy to grow?
👉 Although they do need warm growing conditions, they are fairly easy to grow. Melons are one of those crops most people would love to have a go at growing – even if it's just to be able to tell everyone else they've grown one!
❓ 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 long does it take a melon to bear fruit?
👉 100 to 130 daysGrowing Melons From Seed For growing outdoors, melons need on average 100 to 130 days from seeding to harvesting.
❓ How fast does melon grow?
👉 Melons plants require 8-10 weeks of good, hot growing weather from the middle of June to the end of August. During that time, a melon vine must grow 5-9 leaves before starting to flower, then set 4 or more male flowers before making its first female flower, and then ripen its fruit before cool, damp weather sets in.
❓ What is the best fertilizer for melons?
👉 When fertilizing watermelon plants, use nitrogen based fertilizer at the onset. Once the plant begins flowering, however, switch to feeding the watermelon a phosphorus and potassium based fertilizer. Watermelons require ample potassium and phosphorus for optimal melon production.
👉 To grow them successfully you need to provide them with warmth, water and food. They can be quite vigorous, so regular pruning is needed to keep them under control. Each plant should produce two to four melons. Follow the steps in this easy guide to grow your own delicious crop of melons. Sow two seeds per pot of seed compost in a 9cm pot.
👉 Certain varieties of melon are more sensitive to cold temperatures than others (e.g., watermelon). Direct sow seeds about a week before your area’s last frost date. If the soil still feels cold to the touch, wait before seeding. Melon seeds won’t germinate in soils below 70°F.
👉 Leave about 1–2 feet (0.3–0.6 m) (30-60 cm) of space between each mound, and space rows about 4 feet (1 m) (120 cm) apart to ensure your melon vines have plenty of space to grow. Sow 5-6 seeds in each mound of dirt. Your seeds should be planted between 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) below the surface of your dirt mounds.
👉 You can direct seed or transplant melons into the garden between mid-May in southern Minnesota and late June in northern Minnesota. In the northern part of the state, melons planted in late June must be ready for harvest before mid-September, when frost is likely. Melons perform best in hot, sunny locations with fertile, well-drained soils.