Melons ?

[Kirk]

OK, a melon has managed to both grow and now develop a few fruits.
Any ideas on how big they should be at this time, they are about an inch and a half at this time. Simply are they developing too late?

I assume that a nice sunny sheltered position is best.
It is in a 15 inch pot which is compost and manure mix.

So far can see 3 fruits, if I find more should I limit the number?

[vikkib]

What variety of melon is it, Kirk?

[Kirk]

If memory serves me right "Alaska".
The Minnissotta Midget did germinate but stayed at about 8" however it seems to have supplied flowers and pollen for the fruit on Alaska to get going.

[PyreneesPlot]

I think alaska should weigh about a kilo. However, my melons (chanterais) don't often get to their 'correct' weight, but you can tell when they are ripe by the scent. I stop mine after four fruits have set (if I remember!).

[Garden_Chris]

My melon (which is the first I have ever grown) did absolutely nothing until about a month back. Since then, it has gone utterly balistic in terms of growth and fruit production/set.

The melons I have currently are no larger than an inch in length and yellow.

They're inside the greenhouse growing vertically on bamboo support canes.

Fingers crossed there's still enough time for them to fully mature.

[binley100]

This year I have a melon plant that has more than five leaves ......
one year I might even get to harvest a melon

[BUFFS]

with 7 melons in the two g/houses, the biggest is about one and a half inches long,about 6/7 weeks behind the normal size we usually have by this time,but this year we now seem to be getting a reasonable summer,so mine should be ready by the start/middle of october..hopefully..

[Wapwap79]

I've tried melons for the first time ever and have had some success.. To stop them falling off I made a few hammocks which are helping hold them up but I'm not sure as to when to pick them ??

[Kirk]

Appears that mine isn't much different to others at this time. Seem to have 3 that are obviously going to be melons so I may limit the plant to that.

Plant seems happy in the pot and mixture and hope that the position is good, fair amount of direct sun for a good proportion of the day but sheltered out of any wind.