Ingrid Melon - ground or climb?

[maljackson]

I bought three Ingrid melon plugs for my new polytunnel.

They're growing well, but I'm not sure how they're supposed to grow. I can't find a picture showing them supported by canes or growing along the ground.

This morning I had to support two of them on canes because they're swamping my sweet potatoes.

Any idea what I'm supposed to do?

I'd attach some photos but the attachment thing doesn't work with Opera.

Thanks for any help!
Mal.

[Marcher]

I bought three Ingrid melon plugs for my new polytunnel.

They're growing well, but I'm not sure how they're supposed to grow. I can't find a picture showing them supported by canes or growing along the ground.

This morning I had to support two of them on canes because they're swamping my sweet potatoes.

Any idea what I'm supposed to do?

I'd attach some photos but the attachment thing doesn't work with Opera.

Thanks for any help!
Mal.

Most people seem to grow them on the ground unless space is limited. If you grow them up things then they need to be sturdy and you should net the melons (because of the weight - they'll break off).

Use a ground cover to stop them sitting in dirt - black fabric will give them warmth that they need too but it might overwhelm them on hot days. Maybe try straw as traditionally strawberry growers use, but watch out for insects hiding in it and don't let it get damp.

When did you plant them anyway? It seems a bit late now, I was thinking about growing some myself but avoided doing so for that reason.

[maljackson]

Goddit! Thanks! What you say makes sense. Next year I'll dedicate a whole lidl plastic walk-in for the three. But this year I'll have to support them somehow.

When did you plant them anyway? It seems a bit late now, I was thinking about growing some myself but avoided doing so for that reason.

I think they were delivered back in May as plugs. They've grown a lot since the weather cheered up.

Thanks for your help!
Mal.

[Marcher]

Some pictures:

On the ground:





I would really put something on the ground to protect them though like I said, but these ones in the pictures don't seem to have anything. I suppose it's more about aesthetics because a melon growing on the ground is more likely to get all dirty.


And this is how many people grow them in greenhouses:



Grow them up something like a typical vine but make sure whatever you use can take the weight. When melons form start netting them, I suppose those nets that oranges come in might hold smaller varieties. The nets in this picture look like the nets used to give horses hay, so try a equestrian shop for those.
However most people just grow them on the ground in a greenhouse, often out of a grow bag and trailing along the ground. That would probably be easier unless you really want masses of them like the picture.


I've never grown them myself though so I'm just advising you on what I've read and seen. I might grow some myself next year in a cold frame, I would have done this year but left it too late.
What ones are you growing? You'll have to tell us how they turn out.

[Marcher]

I just noticed in the pictures that the soils tend to be sandy and stony - quick draining. In Britain we have a lot of loams that don't drain as quickly though so they'd be sitting in damp and that could rot them at the bottom. So best put something underneath them.