growing melons

[purplekat]

I'm going to try growing melons this year but think I'll need a heated propagator as packet says it need a min temp of 28c - my house is nearer 18c.

I did manage to germinate all my butternut squash seeds last year with just one of those mini greenhouses but I don't think it needed to be a warm for those.
Any recommendations for a good propagator? Is it worth getting a thermostatically controlled one or will a normal heated one be fine?

[Sanjo]

Can't answer the question about melons Purplekat (though I am going to be interested in other grapes' answers since I was planning on trying some myself this year ) but as far as a thermostatic or single heat propagator is concerned I personally would go for the thermostatic one since it's more controllable. Hope that helps. Will keep my eye on your post if I may!!

[nemo]

hello
i grew melons for the last two years i started them off in our hot press.we have a solid fuel range so the hot press is hot 24 hrs a day.i put them into the Polly tunnel the same time as the tomatoes and peppers.i just let just 2 fruit develop . the female flowers were pollinated by hand and a few weeks later i removed all excess foliage the vine were cut at the first leaf past the fruit.i grew the plants up a little rope the fruits were supported with the mesh bags that come with Brussels sprouts.the mesh bags took all the weight of the fruits.this is the way i do it because i get two good fruit from each plant and buy growing them up a string i can get mere plants per metre than just growing them on the soil surface.when the fruit start to smell beautiful then they are ripe.my friend gets 4 small fruit per plant but i get 2 bigger fruits
i hope this helps
regards nemo

[Sanjo]

Thanks Nemo. Do I understand you to say that you ONLY get two per plant and then that's it? Are they not like cucumbers then, in that they grow on and make more melons?

[lynda66]

i accidentally planted some in my lawn last year, they grew fine outside, though were too late for fruit, cos the frost got em, but i wouldn't bother buying a heated propagator just for them, (unless you are gonna buy one anyway)airing cupboard or top of boiler or above radiator will be fine.

[bramble]

I grew melons two years ago. tended them all summer and got 2 fruits. Grew them last year and got none. This may have been due to the awful summer we had.
When all is said and done, melons were meant to be grown is countries who have a longer hotter summer than ours, so anything in the line of fruit you get is a bonus.
Personally speaking and from experience, I would'nt bother, they';re more troubvle than they're worth.
Give the space to something that will give you a bettewr reward.
Just my opinion of course.

[King Carrot]

I'm trying these this year under cover, supposed to be more acclimatised to our Irish ............. er.........summer

Most Northern Melon

Brown Envelope Seeds

[purplekat]

I'm growing Minnesota Midget from on here

Vegetable Seeds : Melon and Watermelon

So I'll see how they get on - I'm in yorkshire so if I get any then I'll be happy!

I'm not planning on doing them yet but it's my birthday soon and I was hoping to get a propagator so still looking for suggestions on a good one.
I keep my heating fairly low so think I need the extra heat to get them to germinate

[tamsin]

I germinated a seed out of a shop brought melon a couple of weeks ago, just stuck it near a radiator on damp kitchen roll in a sealed sandwich bag. Had a root in 5/6 days. It now 2" tall & getting its first proper leaves.

[lynda66]

I'm growing Minnesota Midget from on here

Vegetable Seeds : Melon and Watermelon

So I'll see how they get on - I'm in yorkshire so if I get any then I'll be happy!

I'm not planning on doing them yet but it's my birthday soon and I was hoping to get a propagator so still looking for suggestions on a good one.
I keep my heating fairly low so think I need the extra heat to get them to germinate

i don't use my heating at all except in freezing emergencies, i just put mine on top of the boiler, it's always on pilot, and it's the warmest place in the house lol.

[poly]

I'm going to try Outdoor Wonder this year, apparently 'grows outdoors or in a well ventilated greenhouse, harvest August-September. You can but try!

I'll also grow/attempt either Minnesota Midget or Collective Farm Woman, Usually get a couple of fruit but size is quite small in the polytunnel.

I won't be sowing them until april, later if the weather is cold. Other wise they don't seem to do much when planted out but sit and wait for warmer weather.They usually germinate fine somewhere warm, usually airing cupboard or propagator depending on space!

[zazen999]

I'm trying the Blacktail this year - as well as the Minssesota midget again. The furthest I've got in melons growing is an inch diameter one last 'summer' - only to find a huge bite had been taken overnight.

So, only when I've got the greenhouse, which should be in the next 8 weeks - will i attempt anything - alot of space taken up so far for zero return.

[Sanjo]

Oh dear, now I don't know whether to bother at all!! So nobody grows "Sweetheart" then which my book says is small and very tasty. Think I'll have to price up the seed and work out if it's worth it. Thanks for all the info everyone. (And sorry Purplekat for butting in to your thread!!)

[bobleponge]

Melons didnt grow last year here either, due to the summer.
I will be growing under glass again this year (or trying to at any rate). There is a lot of space time and effort required for what often seems little or no rewards but I shall NOT be beaten by a fruit.

[pigletwillie]

Ours were a charnantais melon bought in France plus minesota midget. We got 9 fruits from 4 plants with the biggest being twice the size of a cricket ball, the rest slightly smaller than one.

I start nothing at all of in a propogator, the pots just sit on the kitchen worktop. They may take a bit longer to germinate BUT , and it is a big BUT, as I save a lot of my own seeds, I want strains that will "go it alone". A seed that needs a propogator to germinate is going to fare less well in our suspect summers than one that gets going without artificial heat.

The Real seed company have some interesting British weather tolerant ones available. Have a go