When should I net trellised melons?

[quanglewangle]

Newbe - please be gentle if I am violating any protocols!

Growing galia and cantaloupe melons for the first time. In a greenhouse bed with soil heating cable maintaining about 18 - 20C in the soil. We are in Cornwall and although the spring and summer so far has not been all that warn its been sunny and air temperature in greenhouse runs about 24 - 28C most days. The vines are trellised and are about 2m high now, and stopped.

We have melons about 40 mm now. (size of a smallish lime)

Question is: when should I net them?

[Scarlet]

You can give them support as soon as they start to look a little heavy? Tennis ball size?

There's a great thread on here for growing melons - I will have a look.

Welcome to the vine
https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...-uk_96962.html

[Jungle Jane]

Hello & welcome to the vine,check the melons regularly for tiny snails,they appear out of nowhere & live on the melon eating it if given the chance. Your melons are doing well that big already

[Penellype]

My melons are still at the leaf only stage. I net them when a bit smaller than tennis ball size, whenever I can find them in amongst all the leaves.

[quanglewangle]

Thanks

Thanks for tips. Starting to net and hunt for snails as soon as greenhouse cooled down enough for comfort.

[Bluenowhere]

Agreed I net when about tennis ball size when they are smaller they can be delicate and susceptible to damage. I knocked one (pretty lightly) which was about the same size of yours when I was tying the vine in and it fell off during the week so I personally would let them get a bit bigger as they become more robust and the stem hardens.

[quanglewangle]

Thanks bluenowhare

Just netted a lime-sized one. Didn't fall off but was a bit fiddly. Also took some deep remembering to recall how to tie a sheet bend to attach the mesh bag to the cord!
Leaving them to tennis ball size, I think.