When to sow melons

[Gman]

Hey folks,

seeking some advice on when to sow melons in the uk? I recognise that I’m pretty far north (Dundee) but thought I’d give it a crack.

I have minnesota midget melon seeds in the hope that I can get them to fruit in the short summer here in my unheated greenhouse.

Not sure when to sow them though. In relation to other crops I’d grow, do I sow them about the same time I’d sow tomatoes? Cucumbers?

thanks in advance..

[ameno]

Assuming you're keeping the seedlings somewhere warm and light, sow no earlier than 8 weeks before you plant to plant out.
I sowed mine in early March last year, and by the time I planted them out in mid-May they were 18 inches long and already starting to flower.
I'll be sowing mine towards the end of March, for planting outside here in the south west. You're further north, obviously, but you're also planting them in a greenhouse, so I'd say you should probably sow around the same time.

[Gman]

Thanks Ameno,

also, if you are growing them down south without a greenhouse, perhaps there’s hope for me up here with greenhouse..

[Snoop Puss]

Have a look at Emir melons, Gman. Supposedly tolerant of cooler temperatures. I've grown them here but I know people who have had success with them in the UK. Not whoppers but lovely flavour.

[ameno]

I grew Collective Farm Woman and Banana Melon outdoors through black plastic last year.
Collective farm woman gave me a small and very early crop of tasty, ripe melons. Sadly, they never produced a second crop, as slugs kept eating the immature melons.
Banana melon grew like triffids and flowered non-stop from late June, but for some reason the flowers didn't start setting fruit until mid-August (they were definitely lots of both female and male flowers). In the end, they set lots of fruit, but it was so late that sadly none of them ripened.

This year, I'm growing Collective Farm Woman again, and also Emir.

[Gman]

Thanks for recommendations. I’ll see how I got on this year with Minnesota midget, but maybe give the emir a shot next year if I have no luck.

[goosander]

Planted Emir melons in the hot bed 2-3 weeks ago and they " have so far" made good plants. Had spare room and plenty of seed.
Find plants that I have lots of seed and only want a few grow well but those with only a few seeds struggle.
Bob.

[Snoop Puss]

^Where are you based, goosander? I won't be sowing mine for weeks yet.

[nick the grief]

Hey folks,

seeking some advice on when to sow melons in the uk? I recognise that I’m pretty far north (Dundee) but thought I’d give it a crack.

I have minnesota midget melon seeds in the hope that I can get them to fruit in the short summer here in my unheated greenhouse.

Not sure when to sow them though. In relation to other crops I’d grow, do I sow them about the same time I’d sow tomatoes? Cucumbers?

thanks in advance..

mine are just coming thru now but I'm in the Midlands. in fact theyre doing better than the tomatoes sown at the same time ! and thats in the unheated greenhouse. Dundee I'd guess you could sow them now but would need a bit of luck in an UH GH.