Melons: Sweetness Comes from the Sun
1 min read By Екипът на Seeds
Melons need warm soil, moderate watering at the end and patience. Here is how to get sweet fruit.
Sowing
Melons are sown directly once the soil has warmed to at least 16–18 °C — usually from mid-May. In cooler areas, raise seedlings in peat pots so you do not damage the roots when planting out.
Spacing: 80–100 cm between plants.
Training
Pinch out the main stem after the 4th–5th leaf — the fruits set on the side shoots. Leave 3–4 fruits per plant and pinch the shoots two leaves beyond the fruit.
Watering
Water regularly until the fruits set. When the fruits approach their full size, reduce the water — heavy watering at the end dilutes the flavour and splits the skin.
When to pick
- A strong aroma near the stalk.
- The stalk comes away easily (in the case of musk melons).
- The skin changes colour and the netting becomes raised.
Photo: Scott Bauer, USDA, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
