Melon from Your Own Garden

Melons appear very frequently on our plates, but are relatively rarely seen in gardens. Many people consider melons to be exotic fruit that cannot be grown in our conditions, but the opposite is true. Melons can be successfully grown in our climate. Melons are divided into two main groups - watermelons, which are correctly botanically named Citrullus lanatus, and sugar melons (Cucumis melo). Both melon genera belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. Although it may not seem so at first glance, melons are a type of fruiting vegetable. Melons consist of a surface part (rind) that protects the watery flesh hidden inside the fruit. In watermelons, the inner flesh consists largely of water, which can be more than 90%.

Watermelon

Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) are berries that, when fully ripe, consist of red watery flesh and a green rind. Dark seeds are evenly distributed throughout the flesh. Watermelons originate from Africa, where they are still abundantly grown today. Today their cultivation has spread to all places with favorable climatic conditions. Significant growers in Europe include Italy, Spain, Cyprus and Greece.

Interesting fact: The largest watermelon weighed 122 kg

The most commonly grown watermelon varieties include Crimson Sweet, Janosik, Lajko and Sugar Baby.

• Crimson Sweet is a watermelon variety with oval-round fruits. The rind is dark green with light stripes. The flesh is bright red, sometimes colored almost pink. Melons of this variety require a sunny location, sufficient water supply and well-fertilized, humus-rich soil. The vegetation period is approximately 80-85 days. Under favorable conditions, fruits can reach up to 15 kg.

• The Janosik variety is special in that it has yellow flesh, even though it is a watermelon. The rind is smooth, light green with mottling.

• Sugar Baby is a very early variety with a growing period of around 75-80 days. The rind is smooth, dark green with light stripes. The flesh is dark red, juicy and sweet. Fruits typically range between 3-5 kg.

• The Lajko II F1 variety is a highly productive, early hybrid with increased resistance to diseases and adverse conditions. Fruits are slightly elongated, medium-sized. They grow to approximately 4.5 kg. The rind of Lajko watermelons is dark green, smooth and very firm. The flesh is pink, juicy, with a fine texture.

Sugar Melon

Sugar melons are not as popular as their water cousins, but lately they have been appearing on plates more and more frequently. Sugar melons have yellow flesh and green skin, which in some varieties is heavily cracked. Sugar melons differ from watermelons in taste, color of fruit and flesh. Even the plants look completely different at first glance. Sugar melon leaves are rounder and the fruits are much smaller in size. The most commonly grown sugar melons are Melba and Carib gold.

Interesting fact: Sugar melon belongs to the same genus as cucumber.

Growing Watermelon

Watermelon is quite demanding to grow, but this makes growers appreciate their success all the more. Watermelons are heat-loving plants, which should be taken into account when preparing the site. A suitable place for growing melons is a sunny site facing south. The warmer the location you provide for melons, the greater the chance of a rich harvest. To succeed in growing melons, it is important to prepare the soil well. Already in autumn, dig up the selected site and work farmyard manure into the soil. Melons are crops that appreciate growing in first rotation. Never plant melons in a site where there were other cucurbit plants in the previous season (cucumbers, pumpkins...), because the soil after them will be depleted and diseases and pests that did not die in winter could be transferred to the melons.

It's good to pre-grow watermelon seedlings in advance. Sowing into pots or seed trays can be done as early as the end of March. Temperature plays the most important role when sowing. Throughout the germination period, it should not fluctuate or drop below 18°C. The optimal temperature for germination is around 22°C. Sow 1-2 seeds per pot. Young plants will germinate and develop cotyledon leaves within about two weeks. Provide them with sufficient moisture and a temperature of at least 18°C. Leave the seedlings in the pots to strengthen and develop roots sufficiently. An optimally developed watermelon seedling has 3-4 true leaves. Before planting out, start gradually hardening off the grown seedlings. Plant watermelons in their final location only when there is no risk of frost. This is usually around the end of May. The minimum distance between individual plants should be at least 50 cm. Watermelons have proven successful when planted on black non-woven fabric, which helps retain heat. Planted watermelon seedlings need regular watering, and during dry periods water consumption is even higher. Intensive watering about 2x per week is more effective than frequent watering in small doses. Watermelons need a sufficient supply of nutrients, so it's advisable to fertilize them regularly with fertilizer for cucurbit plants. At the beginning of summer, watermelons start flowering and pollination of the flowers is necessary for fruit development. In outdoor locations, bees and other insects will take care of this; in a greenhouse, you need to take a brush in hand and take on the bee's role yourself. After successful pollination, fruits develop from the flowers, which are gradually harvested. During the ripening period, watering is reduced to prevent rotting. A ripe watermelon can be recognized by dried stem tendrils and the classic curl formed by the stems. The skin of ripe watermelons is glossy and yellowish in color where it touches the ground. Ripe watermelons produce a hollow sound.

Grafting Watermelons

People started grafting watermelons for two reasons. The first reason is to reduce the occurrence of certain fungal diseases that plagued watermelon growers. The second reason was the need to increase watermelon yields. A grafted plant can ideally bear more than 80 kg of fruit. Moreover, grafted watermelons have much lower cultivation requirements.

Growing Sugar Melon

Growing sugar melon is easier because it is more resistant to cold and ripens much earlier. Sugar melon seedlings are also pre-cultivated; sowing can be done in mid-April in prepared pots or seed trays. Sugar melons are planted in the bed around the end of May, when temperatures no longer drop below freezing. A suitable location is a warm place with full-day sunlight and well-fertilized soil. For better development, it has proven effective to protect seedlings from cold, for example with white fleece or cloches. Low temperatures slow down plant growth. Higher temperature can also be ensured by growing on black mulching fabric. Sugar melons also need a regular supply of water and nutrients. During the flowering period, don't forget to allow insects to pollinate the flowers. Harvest ripe fruits gradually. It has proven effective to remove fruits that have no chance of ripening, as this way the plant will have more energy to nourish the other fruits.

Tip – Drunken Melon

Melon is often used as a decoration for glasses when preparing mixed drinks. For the adult part of the population, the so-called "drunken melon" will certainly be interesting, which is prepared by making a hole in a watermelon into which alcohol is poured (most often rum or vodka). The melon prepared in this way is placed in the refrigerator for one day so that the alcohol can bind with the watery flesh. The next day, the melon is ready for consumption.