Any ideas what is growing on my honeydews?

[greenwitch]

Hi everyone,

I am growing honeydew melons in my conservatory. I have grown them from seed, they are doing well, they are about a foot tall, prob is i cant find much info on them at all, they have some really thin vine like thing growing from them, this vine thing doesnt have leafs, it starts curled up like a frogs tongue then it opens up and reveals this thing that is about as long as my hand.
Any ideas?

Greenwitch

[ginger ninger]

It sounds like its wanting to attach its self to something so it can climb, try putting something in for it to climb up and see how that goes.

[seasprout]

Sound like Tendrils, they are the vegatiative bits of the plant that climbs upwards thus pulling the plant upwards, same as Cucumbers as they are from the same plant family.

Melons are vines and need support, it's time to build a trellis.!!
http://www.theculinarygardenhoe.com/...onTendrils.gif

[crichmond]

Hi

They are support tendrils I am also growing them and mine are just a bit bigger than your at the moment, the tendrils act the same way as tendrils on a cucumber plants and wrap themselves around whatever they find nearby to help them climb up supports which is there natural way of growing.

tendril (plant anatomy) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia

[greenwitch]

Thanks for the help,

That makes sense i have given them canes to grip too, will that be enough?

Greenwitch

[crichmond]

Canes will be fine but you will need to support the fruit when they start to grow with net bags or old tights or bra cups. You will probably need to tie the canes to stop them falling over when the plants get bigger.