Wheat and Sharks Fin Melon

[HeatherL]

Received my packets of wheat and Sharks Fin Melon seeds today from Garden Organic (I signed up for a couple of the members growing experiments/trials). I have a 2.4 x 1m raised bed that was going to have beans grown in it that is just the right size for the wheat, and a large pile of turf taken from another part of the garden thats been stacked up in front of the shed for the past year which might do for the melon. Is anyone else growing these or has in the past and has any tips? I understand the melon could take over half the garden!

[chris]

I believe zazen grew that melon.. from the stories I've been told anyhow!

[Alison]

I got my melon seeds yesterday too - very excited and can't wait to sow it at the end of the month. I got 4 seeds and have given 2 of them to my brother. Also really pleased to see that you can save easily as they're not related to most other squashes grown in the UK.

[zazen999]

I believe zazen grew that melon.. from the stories I've been told anyhow!

I haven't grown it but I have tasted it.

The one that grew in the compost heap at Ryton last summer grew about 20ft into a tree as well as taking over half the compost area. So please don't treat it with any fertilisers! And do stick it somewhere where there is nothing that you want swamped.

My tip would be to eat them young - like courgettes rather than melons. As they aren't very 'melony'.

[Alison]

It said on the bumph that came with it that they're good made into soup. I'm not expecting them to be sweet like melon and was thinking of them more as a savoury veg that could be used to bulk up. Have wanted to try them since I saw the Grow Your Own film a few years ago.

[veggiechicken]

I have some of Zaz's seeds and I'm afraid to sow them - not until I find my machete

[zazen999]

Depends on your definition of 'good' I suppose.

[Alison]

Still keen to do the trial though and they can spread as much as they want at the bottom of the plot as there is plenty of space between the fruit trees.

[binley100]

Our Wal (90) grew them a couple of years ago like triffids on his plot . You'll need the machete/chainsaw/angle grinder to get into it if you leave them to mature .....imho not worth the bother .

[jackyspratty]

A lotty buddy of mine grows all sorts of grain each year, including wheat which he then takes to a mill and gets about 30kg of flour back! We also gre it in a brick planter at school and a laundry basket. very straight forward really (well on my school scale growing anyway!!). Ours at school was eventually piched the week before we were due to harvest it! Each head neatly snipped off! My lotty buddies main gripe is with pigeons which love the stuff! He tries all sorts of methods to keep them off, so you will need to think about that Im afraid! It is very beautiful to grow IMHO as it changes colour , greens through to bronze to a golden blonde. I also has a lovely sound whne the breeze touches it! What are your plans for the wheat?

[Two_Sheds]

I'm growing wheat with school, we got free seeds from somewhere ...Bake Your Lawn

100 seeds, split into trials (you choose your trial). We've got some in shade, some in sun. Some closely planted, others spaced out. Some started in gh, some outside. etc etc

[jackyspratty]

I'm growing wheat with school, we got free seeds from somewhere ...Bake Your Lawn

100 seeds, split into trials (you choose your trial). We've got some in shade, some in sun. Some closely planted, others spaced out. Some started in gh, some outside. etc etc

We got our seed from there last year too.Its a great thing for a school garden, especially an inner city one. We were also lucky enough to be given a winnow basket from India and a stone mill too. This year we hope to make chapatis from the flour we make!