In My Seed Box For 2022 - Water Melon

In 2019 two plot holders on our site Wally and John grew water melons out on the allotment and not under glass. Looking at the RHS Web site re Melons it states that there are three groups of sweet melons. Canteloupe melons, with their orange flesh are the best ones for us to grow in the UK. You can also grow honeydew types, which have firm yellow flesh, and musk melons, which must be grown in a greenhouse.

For best results in our cooler climate grow your melons in a greenhouse or coldframe, or against a sunny sheltered wall with a cloche covering them.

Now I’m not sure how a wall can be sunny and sheltered at the same time.

I tried growing watermelon in 2022 and failed when the heat wave took out the seedlings and young plants. In 2023 I'm going to try using a Quadgrow or self-watering pot in the greenhouse.

I have been sent a New variety from Mr Fothergill's Melon Mangomel 10 Seeds - £3.10

Melon ‘Mangomel’ is a wonderful new kid on the block with mango undertones – amazing! These large, creamy-yellow fruits are full of flavour and so juicy and aromatic. Each plant should produce between 4 and 6 fruits each. For optimum conditions grow in a greenhouse but can also be grown on a sunny patio in the South of the UK or even under a cloche. When the fruit begins to change from a grey-green tone to its creamy-yellow tones then it is ripe and ready to enjoy. Height: 50cm (20"). Spread: 2m (6', 6").
Melons require high temperatures and humidity. In all but the very warmest areas cultivation is most successful in a greenhouse, or under cover of a cold frame or cloche when growing melons in the UK.

I have also been sent a New variety from Mr Fothergill's Melon Magia Negra 10 Seeds - £3.45

The only information I can find about it is that it's a `Sugar Baby' type watermelon and is quick to mature, producing 7-9kg fruit with deliciously juicy, deep red flesh.

In My Seed Box For 2023 - Index