Melons are summer fruits that must be started from seed as the weather warms up in spring. However, in areas where the weather stays warm and conditions are favourable, they can be grown through the year. All melons — cantaloupe, honeydew melon and watermelon — have similar growing requirements. As melons produce male and female flowers on the same plant, they are naturally pollinated by insects. A garden with an assortment of insect-friendly flowering plants is the most conducive environment for growing melons.
The plants grow best in well-drained soil heaped into a mound with adequate space to spread out. A garden compost heap is a good place to grow melons, as the plants benefit from the heat and nutrients from decomposing matter. They can also be grown in containers on terraces, where the vines are trained up a trellis and the fruits are supported with net bags. The plants need heat and sunlight during the growing period and will produce fruits in about three months.
05mp Cantaloupe
To sow: Choose melon varieties that are known to grow well in your region. Prepare the soil in a sunny section of the garden. Make a heap of rich loamy soil, mixed with crumbled neem-cake, manure and crushed leaves. Make several mounds if you have space for more than four vines. Leave a minimum distance of six feet between each mound for the plants to spread out. Plant three to six seeds per mound to ensure germination, cover with soil, leaving a slight depression that will hold moisture.
Care: Once the seeds have sprouted, cover the soil around the seedlings with a thick layer of organic mulch, consisting of leaves and grass cuttings. Remove weak seedlings at this stage, keeping only the healthy plants. As the long vines supply nutrition to the plants, they should be well maintained by trimming dead leaves and weak side vines. Water on alternate days to keep the soil and plant moist. Irrigation is best done in the evening, preferably by drip tubes which supply water directly to the roots; excess water on the leaves can cause powdery mildew. Protect against aphids, ants and other pests by spraying with a neem solution; peppermint or marigold tea solutions are also effective insect repellents which can be sprayed once a week. Look for bugs under the leaves and remove them by hand. The plants should be nourished weekly with compost tea or diluted panchagavya . Once the flowers appear, sprinkle wood ash around the plant on alternate weeks to supply potash.
Moon Phase: Melons, like all cucurbits, are best sown after the second quarter, as the moonlight increases and the gravitational pull decreases.
Companion Plants: Corn and radish make good companions. The leafy foliage of the melons in turn deters weed growth, which is a boon for its companion plants. Marigold and nasturtium can be grown alongside to deter pests.
Harvest: Stop watering the plants by the third month as the fruits ripen; this intensifies the natural flavour and sweetness of the melons. The fruit is ready if it sounds hollow when tapped. The melons detach from the vine by themselves at maturity or when the vine shrivels and dries. Fruits can be harvested by the third month and will continue for up to six months.
TIPS: Essential conditions for the sweetest melons — a long, hot growing season, well-enriched soil and regular watering. Keep only three fruits per vine to direct all the nutrients into the selected fruits.
