Melons - Sweet And Succulent Grown In Your Home Garden
by John Yazo
Did you know that melons buildup on sugar during there final days of maturity? That's what is missing in the store bought melons that most of us are use too. There is nothing better tasting than a sweet, succulent melon that has been vine ripened in your own vegetable garden. The mouth watering superior taste of a vine ripened melon is what makes it all worth the time and effort it takes to grow them in our gardens.
Melons need an area of full sun, a nutrient rich soil and 3 to 4 months of warm weather to produce a thriving crop. Depending on what type of melon you want to grow, space can be an issue. Watermelons need more area than a muskmelon. A watermelon can crawl over a 100 square foot area, only producing a few melons and a muskmelon can produce 12 melons in a 16 square foot area. There are varieties you can choose from if space is going to limit you from growing a crop of melons. There are compact bush varieties that may be better for you.
Soil conditions are a very important part when growing melons. There are varieties that need a deep loose soil. Some root systems for certain varieties can travel deep into the soil. Having a soil that is full of organic matter, loose, well drained and one that will retain moisture along with the nutrients needed to have your crop thrive is very important.
Melons shouldn't be planted to early. They need a warm climate to thrive. The soil should be between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit before you plant your crop, there is a good possibility that the vines wont produce any fruit if the seedlings start out in a cold climate, warmth is very important so the seedlings don't get shocked by the cold. There are methods that will allow you to grow melons in cool climates or a short growing season.
In most areas it is best to start melons indoors in peat pots to give them the full season of warmth outdoors they need to thrive. Start by planting your seeds indoors in a 4 inch pest pot about 2 to 4 weeks before you are ready to transplant them outdoors. Place 3 seeds in each pot you are going to plant 1/2 inch deep and place them in a sunny location. Bottom heat could be necessary to keep the soil temperature of the pots at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the seeds germinate and the seedlings are about 2 inches tall, thin them so the strongest plant remains in each pot. Do this by pinching the seedlings you want to remove off at the soil line. Don't pull the out. It can damage the root system of the healthy plant you want for a transplant.
Before you can transplant your seedlings outdoors, they will need to harden off the plants. This is where you will be preparing them for there new environment outdoors that they will be relocated to.This is done by taking the seedlings outdoors during the day for a couple hours, then bringing them back inside, increasing the time an hour or two aday for about a week.
Once you harden off your seedlings they can be transplanted in there permanent location. Melons do better when planted on hills. Depending on the variety you are growing the hills can be space from 4 to 6 feet apart to as much as 12 feet apart and plant two to three plants per hill. Once they are planted, water them deep and give them a feeding of compost or manure tea. Once they are watered and feed they should be heavily mulched with a straw much. This will help to suppress the weeds, hold moisture in the soil and have a clean place for the melons to rest on.
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